Launched in July 2020, Project ACTT is a Canadian program providing circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing as an alternative to surgical tissue biopsy for patients with metastatic or recurrent lung cancer. COVID-19 made it clear ctDNA testing should be considered a first-line alternative when tissue biopsies are not available.
The Canadian Digital Technology Supercluster invested in this consortium initiative led by Canexia Health to deploy and enhance its minimally-invasive ctDNA test during the pandemic. Partners include AstraZeneca Canada, Queen’s University, LifeLabs, Illumina, Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory, and Genolife.
With the aim of making this life-saving technology available to all Canadians, Project ACTT is also:
For thousands of cancer patients each year, this minimally-invasive blood draw can be performed instead of surgical tissue biopsy to enable oncologists to select treatment options.
The test is currently available at no cost for lung cancer patients in Canada, and those with breast or lung cancers in Quebec. For patients with other types of cancer that may benefit from a liquid biopsy, a patient pay option is now available through OncoHelix. To learn more, visit https://oncohelix.org/ngs-testing/.
Lung cancer patients in Canada and breast cancer patients in Quebec.
Patients with suspected or known relapsed disease where ctDNA testing can detect resistance mutations. Patients with metastatic disease where ctDNA testing can detect resistance mutations. Patients with tumor not easily amenable to biopsy. Very ill patients with metastatic disease.
10 working days
Blood
No cost for lung cancer patients in Canada, and those with breast or lung cancers in Quebec. For patients with other types of cancer that may benefit from a liquid biopsy, a patient pay option is now available through OncoHelix. To learn more, visit NGS Testing.
Using Project ACTT as a blueprint, Imagia Canexia Health is now building an ecosystem of partners to replicate the model globally and offset burdens on health systems by ensuring all eligible cancer patients have access to life-saving testing.
Imagia Canexia Health’s ctDNA test, Follow It®, offered through a growing network of global partners, is commercially available and detects close to 90% of clinically actionable mutations in all cancer types. Further, Imagia Canexia Health offers a unique partnership model for local laboratories to set up biomarker testing in-house quickly and effectively. Imagia Canexia Health provides its technology and methodology for labs to run testing in-house, while also providing a complete bioinformatics reporting pipeline.
Partnering with Imagia Canexia Health is a cost-effective way to provide quality precision oncology testing and supports efforts to establish and secure reimbursement in localities. This will enable hospitals and laboratories to run ctDNA testing in-house, leading to a sustainable solution regardless of COVID-19 and other health system impacts.
We are seeking to further build our consortium of global pharmaceutical, laboratory, academic, and oncology partners for:
February 4, 2021
This article from The Globe and Mail covers Project ACTT, a federally funded project, led by Canexia Health, which offers the potential for a more efficient alternative for cancer testing that can save hospital resources and lower the risk of infection.
January 11, 2021
Canexia Health provides an update on Project ACTT and announces new partnerships.
December 16, 2020
Through Project ACTT, we are leading a consortium of partners to speed up cancer testing in Canada for targeted treatment selection during the pandemic through minimally invasive circulating tumor (ctDNA) testing. Here are some highlights from the project thus far.
August 7, 2020
British Columbia-based Digital Technology Supercluster has announced a cumulative investment of approximately $30 million into 17 projects, including Project ACTT led by Canexia Health, through its COVID-19 program, launched in April to contribute to Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight the pandemic.
July 16, 2020
A consortium led by Vancouver’s Canexia Health (formerly Contextual Genomics) will soon offer critical testing and treatment options for Canadian cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
July 15, 2020
Early this morning we announced an initiative to deliver and enhance a minimally invasive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test to cancer patients across Canada in response to COVID-19.