Precision partnership: Merck and Omico decode barriers to cancer trial access

Merck has partnered with non-profit research powerhouse Omico to bridge the gap between patients and access to cutting-edge cancer trials.

The collaboration will tap into Omico’s pioneering PrOSPeCT (Precision Oncology Screening Platform enabling Clinical Trials) platform, which provides free comprehensive genomic profiling to patients with advanced, incurable, or poor prognosis cancers, linking them to personalised medicine via clinical trials or therapies.

Josie Downey, Managing Director of Merck Australia, said the alliance reflects the company’s sharper focus on bringing novel cancer therapies to patients faster.

“Our collaboration with Omico is the next step in our ambition to expand our clinical trial footprint in Australia, and a demonstration of Merck’s continued commitment to the Australian Cancer Plan and improving equity of access for Australians with cancer,” she said.

Downey said the partnership embodies Merck’s vision of transforming cancer from a terminal diagnosis into a survivable disease for more people.

“We share Omico’s ambition that cancer patients, wherever they live in Australia, should be able to be connected through precision oncology and screening, with the appropriate treatment or clinical trials, without delay,” she stated.

Merck’s footprint in Australia’s clinical trials landscape is already shifting.

“When we started work 18 months ago, Merck committed to work with our global team to bring more of our early phase clinical development program to Australian patients, and I’m proud to say that since that time, we have more than doubled our clinical trial sites and tripled our oncology trial program locally,” Downey explained.

Yet, she warned, science isn’t the only hurdle – it’s access.

“The challenge now is to find ways to break down the barriers patients may face in accessing clinical trials. For a patient living with cancer, navigating the complexity of healthcare is hard enough. Initiatives like this with Omico, can help reduce the time it takes for patients to access matched treatment or clinical trials,” Downey said.

Professor David Thomas, Chief Science and Strategy Officer at Omico, stressed the urgency and promise of this new frontier in cancer care.

“When faced with a cancer diagnosis, obtaining comprehensive molecular information about their cancer can empower patients and healthcare providers to explore all potential treatment avenues, including novel personalised therapies, many of which may be available only through clinical trials,” Professor Thomas said.

He made it clear that collaboration is non-negotiable if the cancer care system is to evolve.

“Omico’s mission is to mainstream precision oncology for Australians. We cannot do this alone – that’s why it’s important that we work to bring together all parts of the cancer ecosystem, and continuously attract clinical trials to Australia, for patients, their families and carers,” he emphasised.

Welcoming Merck’s partnership, he added “We don’t want a single patient with advanced, incurable and poor prognosis cancer diagnoses to miss the opportunity to benefit from precision oncology and available clinical trials.”

The numbers speak volumes. Since 2016, Omico has facilitated access to precision oncology for more than 23,700 Australians, through referrals from over 1,380 clinicians nationwide. It has supported 98 clinical trials, offering hope where little existed, and turning Australia into a magnet for international investment and innovation in cancer research.

Downey sees Australia’s research ecosystem as uniquely placed to lead globally, with organisations like Omico lighting the way.

“Their work has been instrumental in providing Australians with the ability to receive precision oncology and is a critical initiative advancing cancer care in this country,” she said.

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