Community 365 Roundtable on Genomic Tumour Testing: Delivering Precision Goals in European Oncology

On Tuesday 3 October at 14:30 - 17:00 CEST, the European Cancer Organisation held the third Community 365 Roundtable event of 2023, on the subject of delivering Precision Goals in European Oncology. 

 

The results and conclusions of this exercise were published via the new Action Report.

 

The meeting was co-chaired by Patrycja Rzadkowska, ECO PAC Member and Patient Advocate for Pancreatic Cancers Europe and Mark Lawler, ECO Board Member and Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast.

 

Genomic tumour testing plays a crucial role in precision medicine and personalised cancer treatment. By understanding the genetic makeup of a tumor, healthcare providers can tailor treatment strategies to individual patients, leading to improved outcomes. However, there are several challenges in implementing genomic tumour testing effectively, and this roundtable aims to address those challenges and discuss the way forward.  

03 October 2023 14:30 - 17:00 CEST

Virtual

View the Recording from the Roundtable meeting here.

Programme

14:30-14:35 – Welcome and introductions
Roundtable Co-Chairs:
  • Andreas Charalambous, President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska, Patient Advisory Committee Member, European Cancer Organisation; and Patient Advocate for Pancreatic Cancers Europe.
  • Mark Lawler, ECO Board Member and Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast.
14:35-15:10 – Genomic Tumour Testing in Europe in 2023: The Current Landscape

Co-chaired by Mark Lawler, and Cecilia Schott, Vice-President, Global Head Precision Diagnostics, Novartis.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Nicola Normanno, Director of Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Director of the Transnational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples.
  • Rosa Giuliani, Consultant medical oncologist, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Anne-Marie Baird, President of Lung Cancer Europe and Patient Advisory Committee Member.

The session will:  

  • Describe latest headline data about the extent of access to genomic tumour testing in Europe. 
  • Recap on previous ECO policy considerations on genomic tumour testing, including its 2021 Action Report ‘Put to the Test: Empowering Genomics to Improve Cancer Care and Patient Lives’. 
  • Give overview on EU level and other major initiatives to assist the uptake of genomic tumour testing. 
  • Provide patient perspective on the current and anticipated future status of genomic tumour testing access in Europe. 
15:10-15:50 – Developing The Infrastructure for Delivering Genomic Tumour Testing: Where Are We Now and Where Do We Need To Be

Co-chaired by Patrycja Rzadkowska, and Achim Escherich, Global Technical Companion Diagnostics Lead, Market Access, Menarini Stemline.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Marc Van den Bulcke, Head of Service, Cancer Centre, Epidemiology and public health, Sciensano.
  • Reinhard Büttner, Professor and Chairman for Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University of Cologne.
  • Paul Hofman, Chair of the Working Group for Pulmonary Diseases, European Society of Pathology.

  • Tanja Spanic, President, Europa Donna Slovenia.

The session will:  

  • Review the present state of readiness of European health and cancer care systems to provide access to genomic tumour testing, with a particular focus to matters such as workforce and laboratory infrastructure. 
  • Articulate current and future needs including in respect to digital technology and the best investments. 
15:50-16:25 – The Value of Genomic Tumour Testing 

Co-chaired by Patrycja Rzadkowska, and Elizabeth Sheppard, Global Pricing & Market Access Director, Oncology Diagnostic AstraZeneca. 

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Thomas Hofmarcher, Research Director, Swedish Institute for Health Economics.
  • Mark Lawler, ECO Board Member and Chair in Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast.
  • Marco Marchetti, Responsible, National center for health technology assessment (HTA), Italian National Institute of Health

The session will:  

  • Investigate the current approaches to reimbursing genomic tumour testing in Europe. 
  • Provide an understanding of the cost-benefit analysis related to genomic tumour testing. 
  • Give the political and legislative context to genomic tumour testing access, including with reference to the implementation of the EU HTA regulation. 
16:25-17:00 – Genomic Tumour Testing: Looking Into The Future 

Co-chaired by Mark Lawler, and Olivia McDermid, Senior Manager Global Health Policy - HTA & Oncology, Amgen Zug.

Including contributions from expert speakers:
  • Michele Calabro, Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
  • Maeve Lowery, Professor of Translational Cancer Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Medical Oncologist at St James Hospital 
  • Audrey Wolf, Associate Director Healthcare Systems and SMEs, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)

The session will:  

  • Consider some of the political obstacles that remain to be overcome in respect to expanding access to genomic tumour testing, including, but not limited to: the application of the in vitro diagnostics regulation (IVDR) and new EU level pharmaceutical regulation. 
  • Prioritise political actions and recommendations stemming from the roundtable’s discussions. 

Speakers

  • Andreas Charalambous President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska Patient Advisory Committee Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe
  • Mark Lawler Board Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Chair, Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast
  • Michele Calabro Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
  • Reinhard Büttner  Professor and Chairman for Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University of Cologne
  • Nicola Normanno Director of the Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Director of the Translational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples
show all speakers (17)

Speakers

  • Andreas Charalambous President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska Patient Advisory Committee Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe
  • Mark Lawler Board Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Chair, Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast
  • Michele Calabro Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
  • Reinhard Büttner  Professor and Chairman for Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University of Cologne
  • Nicola Normanno Director of the Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Director of the Translational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples
show all speakers (17)
  • Andreas Charalambous President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska Patient Advisory Committee Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe
  • Mark Lawler Board Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Chair, Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast Read Bio
  • Michele Calabro Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
  • Reinhard Büttner  Professor and Chairman for Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University of Cologne
  • Nicola Normanno Director of the Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Director of the Translational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples Read Bio
  • Marc Van den Bulcke Head of Service, Cancer Centre, Epidemiology and public health, Sciensano
  • Tanja Spanic President, Europa Donna Slovenia Read Bio
  • Thomas Hofmarcher Health economist and Research Director, Swedish Institute for Health Economics Read Bio
  • Rosa Giuliani Consultant medical oncologist, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
  • Paul Hofman Chair of the Working Group for Pulmonary Diseases, European Society of Pathology Read Bio
  • Anne-Marie Baird Member, Patient Advisory Committee President, Lung Cancer Europe Read Bio
  • Audrey Wolf Associate Director Healthcare Systems and SMEs, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)
  • Cecilia Schott Vice President, Global Head Precision Diagnostics at Novartis Read Bio
  • Elizabeth Sheppard Global Pricing & Market Access Director, Oncology Diagnostic AstraZeneca.
  • Achim Escherich PhD, MBA Global Technical Companion Diagnostics Lead, Market Access, Menarini Stemline
  • Olivia McDermid Senior Manager Global Health Policy - HTA & Oncology, Amgen Zug
  • Maeve Lowery Professor of Translational Cancer Medicine, Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Medical Oncologist, St James Hospital

Speakers

  • Andreas Charalambous President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska Patient Advisory Committee Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe
  • Mark Lawler Board Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Chair, Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast
  • Michele Calabro Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
  • Reinhard Büttner  Professor and Chairman for Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University of Cologne
  • Nicola Normanno Director of the Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Director of the Translational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples
show all speakers (17)

Speakers

  • Andreas Charalambous President, European Cancer Organisation
  • Patrycja Rzadkowska Patient Advisory Committee Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Vice-Chair, Pancreatic Cancer Europe
  • Mark Lawler Board Member, European Cancer Organisation, and Chair, Translational Cancer Genomics, Queen's University Belfast
  • Michele Calabro Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
  • Reinhard Büttner  Professor and Chairman for Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University of Cologne
  • Nicola Normanno Director of the Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Director of the Translational Research Department, INT Fondazione Pascale, Naples
show all speakers (17)