February 23, 2024
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Agilent cancer treatment approved in Europe

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Agilent Technologies, with offices in Carpinteria, announced a product designed to identify previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer patients with a tumor proportion score of 50 percent or more was approved for use in Europe in conjunction with Merck’s Keytruda therapy.

Before using the product – called PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx and developed by Agilent subsidiary Dako – first-line patients were treated with standard chemotherapy. PD-L1 IHC 22C3 can also be used to identify second-line and later treatment patients for the therapy and is certified to meet all the legal requirements to be sold throughout the European Economic Area.

“With PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx, European pathologists have the ability to accurately identify the PD-L1 expression of a patient’s tumor, which ultimately enables the oncologist to provide the best treatment for that particular patient,” Jacob Thaysen, president of Agilent’s diagnostics and genomics group, said in a news release.

Non-small cell patients account for 80 percent of all lung cancers, the statement said. Keytruda increases the immune system’s ability to detect and fight tumor cells among other functions.

“Keytruda data continues to demonstrate the important role of PD-L1 testing in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer in order to identify those patients most likely to respond to treatment,” said Dr. Roger Dansey, Merck Research Laboratories senior vice president and therapeutic area head.

• Contact Marissa Nall at mnall@pacbiztimes.com.