Europe: precision medicine and access to NGS cancer biomarker testing

Article tags Centralised Diagnostics (CEDx)In-vitro diagnosticsMolecular Diagnostics (MDx)Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)Tissue Diagnostics (TDx)EuropeIVD GatewayLabPRO PlusMolecular Diagnostics (MDx)Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)Tissue Diagnostics (TDx)

Advancements in cancer biomarker testing through the use of powerful molecular testing technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) is supporting the use of precision medicine. 

Expanding access to NGS cancer biomarker testing in Europe

Access to NGS cancer biomarker testing is expected to expand in Europe with growing affordability of the technology and support from local and regional medical guidelines.

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) issued its first guideline on NGS testing for cancer in 2020. It recommended routine use of NGS testing for several cancer types: advanced non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), prostate cancers, ovarian cancers and cholangiocarcinoma.

NGS is also becoming a cost-efficient molecular testing technique with studies finding that NGS panel testing is a less costly alternative to the traditional single-gene testing approach.

Key NGS market players in Europe

As NGS opens possibilities for extensive cancer profiling, more oncologists will gain the diagnostic insights to make better treatment decisions for patients. In-vitro diagnostics (IVD) and sequencing companies need to plan ahead to aid the growth in laboratory cancer-biomarker testing.

While Illumina, Qiagen and Thermo Fisher Scientific hold the largest share for NGS installations in Europe labs, smaller players exist for reagents as well as interpretation tools and software where we might see more concentration in the coming years.

For more on the NGS cancer biomarker testing trends, download the white paper on Next-generation sequencing (NGS) in cancer biomarker testing: Testing trends in European molecular and pathology laboratories

Mon, 20th Jun 2022 Article tags Centralised Diagnostics (CEDx)In-vitro diagnosticsMolecular Diagnostics (MDx)Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)Tissue Diagnostics (TDx)EuropeIVD GatewayLabPRO PlusMolecular Diagnostics (MDx)Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)Tissue Diagnostics (TDx)