Foundation Medicine, a molecular information company, and Ariad Pharmaceuticals, an emerging global oncology company, announced a genomic profiling collaboration to study AP26113, Ariad's investigational dual-inhibitor of ALK and EGFR in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancers.

Foundation Medicine will work with Ariad to generate genomic profile information for patients enrolled in Ariad's ongoing phase I/II trial and these data will be matched with clinical observations to understand the activity and selectivity profile of AP26113.

"It is important that we have a deep molecular understanding of patients' tumors as they begin treatment with AP26113, especially those patients with complex prior treatment histories," said Timothy P. Clackson, Ph.D., president of R&D and CSO, Ariad. "Foundation Medicine is at the forefront of genomic profiling technologies that will provide molecular insights on a wide array of clinically relevant tumor genes including ALK and EGFR alteration status.”

Michael Pellini, M.D., president and CEO, Foundation Medicine, added, "This study is an example of how cancer complexity often defies single-marker analysis in drug development. We expect that our comprehensive genomic profile will help to identify the optimal patient population for AP26113 and may potentially enable an expedited development timeline."