Merck and Sysmex Inostics receive EU approval for colorectal cancer test

Merck and Sysmex Inostics have been granted European CE Mark approval for a new liquid biopsy test for colorectal cancer patients.

The OncoBEAM RAS colorectal cancer assay has been shown to deliver a similar performance to conventional tissue-based testing and can be used to determine which patients would benefit from anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapies, such as Erbitux.

A comprehensive 34-mutation panel based on BEAMing technology, the test requires only a small blood sample to determine the mutation status of tumours, rather than a tissue biopsy.

With CE Mark approval secured, the testing technology is expected to be widely implemented across Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia by the end of 2016.

Rehan Verjee, chief marketing and strategy officer of Merck's biopharma business, said: "The CE mark approval of the liquid biopsy RAS biomarker test is a pivotal milestone for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, as it allows for informed and rapid treatment decisions."

The company recently announced that its CRISPR Epigenetic Activator has been named as one of The Scientist magazine's top ten innovations of the year.