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January 29, 2016

Yandex Data Factory Partners With AstraZeneca and RUSSCO to Improve Cancer Diagnostic Methods

Jan. 29 — The biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, the Russian Society of Clinical Oncology (RUSSCO), and Yandex Data Factory announced signing of the trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation in Development of the RAY Diagnostic Platform in Oncology, which can be used in molecular-genetic diagnosis laboratories. This cooperation between a medical organization, a pharmaceutical and an IT company may lay the groundwork for a service that would contribute to better cancer diagnostics methods, as well as to identification of pre-dispositions to cancers in patients’ relatives in the Russian Federation.

Cancer prevalence has tended to grow in recent years, both in Russia and worldwide. Approximately 14 million new cancer cases are diagnosed in the world annually.Professionals forecast that this indicator may rise to 17 million by 2030. New personalized treatment approaches can greatly improve patients’ survival and, in combination with immunotherapeutics, may potentially transform some cancers into chronic diseases in the future. At the same time, genetic discoveries have revealed the molecular drivers of cancer growth that is why molecular-genetic testing for identification and selection of the best treatment options have become critical.

Mr. Sergey Alekseevich Tyulyandin, Chairman, Russian Society of Clinical Oncology (RUSSCO), Deputy Scientific Director, N.N. Blokhin Russian Scientific Cancer Centre Research and Development Institute for Clinical Oncology, said,  “I am glad that joining of the medical community’s efforts with those of IT and pharmaceutical industry representatives promotes greater accessibility of innovative treatment to Russian patients. It is of particular importance in oncology because, for instance, molecular-genetic diagnostics that is critical for selection of the best treatment options for genetically-dependent cancers has not been included into the existing standards yet. Hopefully, establishment of a Russian service for molecular-genetic testing and interpretation of its findings will fine-tune modern drug treatment for our patients.”

The RAY diagnostic service searching for clinically significant mutations in genetic sequencing data can be used in molecular-genetic diagnosis laboratories and, in the future, in cancer dispensaries. It would help assess the clinical and predictive significance of the mutations revealed in sequencing, which determines their drug interaction. The report with such information will be based, among other sources, on the database of the OVATAR study held by AstraZeneca jointly with RUSSCO. The interpretation of the diagnosis findings by clinical geneticists from Russia’s top research and development institutions is also an important function of this service.

Kristina Rodnikova, Vice President, AstraZeneca, Russia and Eurasia: “Kristina Rodnikova, Vice President, AstraZeneca, Russia and Eurasia, said, “Recent achievements in personalized medicine allow to improve efficacy of cancer therapy. Diagnostics, including molecular genetic testing, is very important to determine the right choice of treatment options. At present in Russia there is a high demand for special diagnostic service that ensures more accurate and high-tech interpretation of the genetic sequencing data. We are happy that joint expertise of RUSSCO, AstraZeneca and Yandex Data Factory will help to develop a diagnostic platform that brings tangible benefits for the Russian healthcare and accessibility of diagnostics for the Russian patients.”

The new product is based on a platform built using Yandex’s technologies and features an infrastructure that supports high-load events. This platform implements fault-tolerant distributed computing, which allows the addition of an unlimited number of new servers to the system in proportion with the increasing number of tasks when processing genome sequencing Information. The system is resistant to failure of individual parts and will continue to work even if some of its components break down.

All computations are done at Yandex’s own energy-efficient data centres, which reduces operational costs.

Evgenia Zavalishina, CEO Yandex Data Factory, said, “Yandex Data Factory applies Yandex technologies to solve tasks for companies from different sectors – industry, commerce, finance etc. – come across. Cooperation with AstraZeneca is the first instance when Yandex technologies can benefit the medical and pharmaceutical industry. It is an experiment for us, and we would like its results to be useful. Big Data processing technologies were combined with bioinformatics methods to design the RAY platform. The platform generates a report on mutations found in a patient’s genome for molecular biologists and clinical geneticists, compiles and delivers information on their potential effects, available treatment options. Such service simplifies access to reference information and helps specialists to interpret test results. We count on holding 3,000-5,000 tests with our service the next year. We will also regularly supplement the platform with data on newly investigated mutations, thus improving the report comprehensiveness.”

The testing stage of RAY diagnostic platform will start in December 2015. The number of tests is expected to reach 3,000-5,000 annually at the initial stage and 10,000+ later.

About OVATAR study

OVATAR is a non-intervention investigation into medical professionals’ preferences in treatment approaches to patients with newly diagnosed serous and/or endometrioid ovarian, salpingeal and peritoneal cancer in daily clinical practice in Russia, by assessing particular features of the first-line treatment.

An additional study purpose is to investigate into epidemiology of BRCA gene mutations of this nosology.

The study is held in cooperation with the Russian Society of Clinical Oncology (RUSSCO).

It is expected to enroll 500 patients into the study Russia-wide. Up to 30 centres will be involved in the study. The study is to be finalized in 2017, with an intermediate review of its findings in mid-2016.

About cooperation between AstraZeneca and Yandex Data Factory

AstraZeneca and Yandex Data Factory announced signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in Big Data in Healthcare in February 2015. The cooperation encompasses big data projects in epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics and treatment in infectious diseases, oncology, diabetes, cardiology, respiratory and psychiatry.

The first pilot project implemented in 2015 resulted in creation of a database on antibacterial resistance in different regions of Russia and the CIS.

About the Russian Society of Clinical Oncology (RUSSCO)

The Russian Society of Clinical Oncology gears towards joining the efforts of cancer specialists and specialists from allied areas (radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, specialists of diagnostic services, investigators into biological properties of neoplasmas etc.) to improve cancer prevention and treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality in Russia.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com  

About Yandex Data Factory

Yandex Data Factory is an international project of Yandex designed to provide big data analytics solutions to corporate and enterprise clients. Yandex’s technologies – machine learning, image and voice recognition, deep neural networks, and natural voice processing – help businesses utilise masses of accumulated data for their benefit. Besides the technologies required for big data handling, Yandex has at its disposal the best experts in this field. http://yandexdatafactory.com

Source: Yandex Data Factory

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