Genomics has entered a partnership with GSK to evaluate the potential integration of polygenic risk scores (PRS) into clinical trial methodologies.
This innovative approach is expected to enhance the understanding of disease risk and refine subject selection, potentially leading to more efficient clinical trials.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The partnership will focus on the application of advanced PRS-powered tools and technologies of Genomics.
Genomics will offer its extensive genetic databases and algorithms, which are crucial for assessing the genetic component of diseases.
Both companies will delve into various potential applications of these PRS tools, examining their ability to streamline clinical trials.
They aim to reduce the number of participants required and shorten the duration of studies, which could lead to effective proof-of-concept and pivotal trials.
Genetic factors are known to significantly influence disease susceptibility, progression, and drug response.
These are often due to numerous genetic variations that contribute to a person’s overall genetic risk, quantifiable as a PRS.
Genomics founder and CEO professor Peter Donnelly said: “PRS-based approaches have the potential to support clinical trial design. Using PRS to get the right people into studies could have a potential positive impact, including in the reduction of trial size and timescale, leading to efficiencies in drug development.”
The alliance will investigate how PRS-based approaches can improve subject selection for trials.
Furthermore, the companies will try to understand the potential impact of such methods on the trials’ efficiency, including the possibility of recruiting fewer patients and reducing trial lengths.
GSK Human Genetics and Genomics vice-president Robert Scott said: “Genomics is leading in both the development and real-world application of PRS-based approaches, opening up new frontiers in genomic medicine.
“At GSK, we have demonstrated the opportunity for genetics to guide drug discovery and development; I look forward to working with Genomics to further explore the potential for PRS to support clinical trial design.”
