Japan’s personalized medicine service provider Riken Genesis has recently collaborated with cancer intelligence firm C2i Genomics to make AI-powered whole-genome minimal residual disease (MRD) cancer detection technology “C2inform MRD” available across Japan. Such in vitro diagnostics (IVD)-oncology solutions help physicians not only in precise diagnosis but also aid in prescribing rational medications. Thus, the exceeding need for personalized medicine is expected to drive the IVD-oncology market growth in the country, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Fifty percent (50%) of patients treated with conventional anti-cancer treatments show resistance to cancer medicines and develop serious side effects. Genetic variation among the patients plays a vital role in such disparity in response to anti-cancer medicines. Sequencing-based-IVD tests identify such interindividual variations and can detect cancer cells early providing guidance for subsequent therapeutic interventions.

MRD tests are designed to detect leftover or residual cancer cells post-surgery in case of solid tumors and during or after treatment in case of hematologic malignancies. If left untreated, these small numbers of leftover cells may lead to cancer re-occurrence. Innovative sequencing-based tests such as C2i Genomics’ C2inform MRD and Riken Genesis’ clonoSEQ MRD offer the precise detection of residual cancer cells.

Dr. Satyajeet Salunkhe, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Due to the probability of the presence of residual cancer cells, medical practitioners typically recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy to avoid cancer re-occurrence. MRD tests will ensure giving chemotherapy or radiation therapy only in patients showing early signs of cancer progression avoiding unnecessary exposure to toxic anti-cancer therapies in patients which lack evidence of cancer progression.”

According to GlobalData’s research, Japan held over 23% of the IVD-oncology market within the APAC region in 2022. The Japanese market offers a wide range of personalized oncology diagnostics such as tests from Riken Genesis for the detection of genetic mutations in cancer driver genes along with the tests for genes responsible for treatment resistance in patients. After collaboration with C2i Genomics, the personalized medicine product portfolio of Riken Genesis is expanded covering both hematologic and solid tumors.

Dr. Salunkhe concludes: “With the advent of novel genomic analysis tools, personalized medicine is becoming a new medical standard. The active partnership between Riken Genesis and C2i Genomics is expected to deliver breakthrough personalized medicine solutions to the Japanese IVD-oncology industry.”