Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ: TWST) today launched Twist MRD Express, a new line of custom panels. The mid-cap growth and value biotech company manufactures these panels at scale. Turnaround time starts within one day. Cancer researchers can use Twist MRD Express panels to investigate tumor-associated genomic variants. Moreover, the panels support studies in oncology research, biomarker discovery, and assay development.
Twist MRD Express panels let researchers combine two strengths. They get the sensitivity of tumor-informed MRD detection. At the same time, they get the speed and simplicity of tumor-naïve MRD detection. As a result, researchers no longer need to choose one over the other while developing their tests.
Emily M. Leproust, CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience, explained the thinking behind the launch.
“To understand how cancer is responding at the molecular level, researchers need workflows that move as quickly as their questions demand,” said Emily M. Leproust, CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “With personalized Twist MRD Express panels we are eliminating the tradeoff researchers need to make between sensitivity and speed, enabled by enhancements to our manufacturing and automation processes within our existing high-throughput environment. Importantly, as MRD providers scale, their supply chains need to keep pace. Our platform is built to support that growth, giving customers confidence to plan beyond today’s testing volumes.”
What Is Molecular Residual Disease (MRD) Testing?
Molecular residual disease, or MRD, refers to a small amount of tumor-derived molecules that remain after cancer treatment. These molecules include genetic material. Researchers usually follow one of two approaches when they develop MRD tests.
The first approach is tumor-informed. It builds a personalized panel around an individual’s own tumor variants. Researchers use that panel to identify recurrence. The second approach is tumor-naïve. It relies on common biomarkers across a particular cancer indication. Consequently, researchers can test multiple patients for these shared biomarkers.
Tumor-informed MRD testing delivers higher sensitivity. However, personalization traditionally slows its development. Twist MRD Express changes that equation. Cancer researchers can now access personalized tumor-informed panels manufactured at scale. Furthermore, Twist delivers them on tumor-naïve timelines.
Twist has also built capacity for high-throughput production. The company can produce custom MRD Express panels of up to 10,000 probes. Therefore, researchers get the speed and scale their projects demand.
With this launch, Twist Bioscience gives MRD providers a faster path from panel design to delivery.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
