EXCLUSIVE: Haystack Oncology Inks Research Collaboration With Lisata Therapeutics To Use Haystack MRD Technology To Evaluate Pancreatic Cancer Therapy Efficacy

Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics Inc. DGX company, announced a research collaboration with Lisata Therapeutics Inc. LSTA.

Haystack Oncology developed Haystack MRD, a next-generation tumor-informed approach to measure minimal residual disease. Haystack MRD uses an error-corrected ctDNA technology to detect down to one ctDNA molecule in a million normal DNA molecules.

Lisata Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for advanced solid tumors.

Under the agreement, Lisata will deploy the Haystack MRD technology to detect circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in a clinical study evaluating certepetide plus chemotherapy as an investigational treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

In the FORTIFIDE study, Lisata is investigating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of its lead product candidate, certepetide, when given as a 4-hour continuous infusion in combination with standard-of-care treatment in subjects with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who have progressed on FOLFIRINOX, a treatment for pancreatic cancer.

As part of this research, Lisata has engaged Haystack to use its MRD technology to measure serum ctDNA levels at multiple time points in patients throughout the study as an exploratory endpoint for analyzing the early therapeutic effect of certepetide.

The American Cancer Society estimates more than 66,000 individuals nationwide will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2024. mPDAC accounts for more than 90% of pancreatic cancer cases and is a highly aggressive form of the disease.

Most recently, Lisata Therapeutics announced the early completion of enrollment in its Phase 2a BOLSTER trial evaluating certepetide (formerly LSTA1), Lisata’s investigational product, as a treatment for first-line cholangiocarcinoma.

Price Action: DGX shares closed at $148.48, and LSTA shares closed at $3.66 on Wednesday.

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