Roche Snaps Up Oncology and Genomics Diagnostics Firm Signature Diagnostics

Roche said Monday it has acquired Signature Diagnostics, an oncology and genomics firm based in Potsdam, Germany. Signature develops large blood plasma and tissue biobanks for multiple types of cancers.

The samples, along with clinical and genetic data, are used to develop and validate circulating cell free DNA tests, which have the potential to advance noninvasive treatment monitoring for cancer patients, the companies said.

Biobanks play an important role in identifying the cause of cancer, which is important to the development of personalized therapies, said Roland Digglemann, COO of Roche Diagnostics. They can also be used to discover and test biomarkers with potential drug therapies, he added.

Signature represents a bridge between cancer biobanks and next-generation sequencing assays, which can speed development of targeted NGS-based diagnostics, Digglemann said. The firm will be absorbed into Roche’s sequencing unit, where it will focus on expanding its genomic portfolio, the Swiss firm said. — Kellen Owings