Tempus Unveils HER2 & FOLR1 Testing to Enhance Personalized Patient Care

• Tempus has introduced new IHC tests for HER2 and FOLR1 markers in all solid tumors, aiding in the identification of patients eligible for targeted therapies like ADCs.
• These tests align with recent FDA approvals and clinical guidelines, expanding Tempus’ diagnostic portfolio to help doctors optimize treatment options.

Tempus, a leader in AI and precision medicine, has introduced new testing solutions to help doctors identify patients with tumors expressing HER2 or FOLR1. This can make patients eligible for targeted therapies like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). These new tests, using immunohistochemistry (IHC), are available for all solid tumors and can be added to Tempus’ xT or xR next-generation sequencing tests.

ADCs are a growing type of treatment that targets and kills tumor cells while sparing healthy ones. These treatments are effective for patients whose tumors express specific markers like HER2 and FOLR1. Tempus now offers IHC tests for these markers, which are recommended by clinical guidelines for several cancer types and can be ordered for others based on the doctor’s judgment. This addition enhances Tempus’ range of testing solutions, helping doctors find the best treatment options for their patients.

This expansion is timely, aligning with the recent FDA approval of trastuzumab deruxtecan. This drug is for adults with advanced HER2-positive tumors who have tried other treatments without success. It underscores the importance of thorough HER2 testing in deciding on targeted therapies. For breast and gastric (including colorectal) cancer patients, Tempus also offers reflex testing to ERBB2 FISH. Meanwhile, FOLR1 testing is recommended for patients with certain types of ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers.¹

“Expanding our offerings to include tests for specific, predictive biomarkers, like HER2, can help reveal a patient’s responsiveness to therapies that have the potential to positively impact their outcome,” said Ezra Cohen, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Oncology at Tempus. “These are the kind of critical tools that we are arming physicians with as new, targeted therapies are made available for patients.”

¹ NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Ovarian. Version 1.2024.