Natera and Merck's Partnership: Revolutionizing Cancer Research with Signatera Test

In a significant stride for oncology research, Natera, a pioneer in cell-free DNA testing, has announced its collaboration with pharmaceutical giant Merck. This partnership is set to leverage Natera’s extensive real-world database (RWD) to propel advancements in cancer research.

Natera's RWD is a treasure trove of valuable information, encompassing de-identified clinical and genomic data from over 100,000 cancer patients, both early and late-stage, who have undergone testing with Signatera. It is Natera's innovative, personalized molecular residual disease (MRD) test, tailored to individual patients. Signatera has become an invaluable tool in understanding the molecular response to cancer treatments, thanks to its ability to detect and quantify residual cancer DNA in the body.

This data, primarily longitudinal, offers an objective look at how patients respond to treatment over time. It's linked to a comprehensive database that includes clinical outcomes, genomic profiling, and imaging data. This rich data set is a goldmine for pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to strategically enhance drug development programs across various stages of cancer.

John Fesko, Natera's president & chief business officer, underscores the impact of this collaboration: 

“With Signatera being ordered now on a regular basis by over a third of all oncologists in the U.S., Natera is in a unique position to structure and share its real-world experience to inform drug discovery and clinical research.”

About Signatera test 

Signatera stands out as a bespoke, tumor-informed, molecular residual disease test for individuals previously diagnosed with cancer. Each test is custom-built, utilizing circulating tumor DNA to detect residual cancer, thereby enabling earlier identification of recurrence compared to standard care tools and assisting in optimizing treatment decisions. 

Signatera is not only available for clinical and research use but is also covered by Medicare for certain cancers, including colorectal, breast (stage IIb and higher), and muscle invasive bladder cancer. It's also used for monitoring any solid tumor with immunotherapy. Signatera's clinical validity has been established across multiple cancer types and indications, backed by over 50 peer-reviewed publications.