Exact Sciences Cologuard v2 and v3 -- is it cfDNAme?
Exact Sciences EXAS 0.00%↑ and Watchmaker Genomics announced on Wednesday that they have partnered in a co-exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialize a the TAPS technology of bisulfite-free DNA methylation analysis which Exact acquired a few years ago by buying Base Genomics.
The TAPS technology was originally developed by researchers at the University of Oxford's Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. The technology was first published in a paper in 2017, and it was quickly recognized as a promising new method for DNA methylation analysis.
The TAPS technology is based on the use of a chemical called pyridine borane. Pyridine borane can be used to selectively cleave methylated DNA, which allows for the detection of both 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. This is in contrast to traditional bisulfite sequencing, which can only detect 5-methylcytosine.
The TAPS technology has several advantages over traditional bisulfite sequencing. It requires a lot less DNA to start with, which makes it more accurate, and it is less invasive at the point of sampling the DNA (blood sample or biopsy), and according to Base Genomics, now Exact Sciences, it is faster and simpler to perform on the DNA sample than other technologies. TAPS is compatible with next-generation sequencing platforms, which are becoming increasingly popular, in comparison to other methods like ddPCR.
The TAPS technology and other low-input DNA epigenomic profiling technologies have the potential to revolutionize cancer screening. It is a higher resolution and less invasive way to analyze DNA methylation than PCR-based methods such as the ones used in Cologuard v1, which could lead to earlier detection of cancer and better outcomes for patients.
The licensing agreement between Exact Sciences and Watchmaker Genomics is a major step forward for the development and commercialization of TAPS technology. Watchmaker Genomics has a strong track record of developing and commercializing innovative cancer screening tests, and they are well-positioned to bring TAPS to market.
The co-exclusive licensing agreement means that both Exact Sciences and Watchmaker Genomics will have access to the TAPS technology. This will allow them to collaborate on the development of new cancer screening tests, and it will also allow them to compete with each other to bring TAPS to market.