This project aims at leveraging the wealth of genetic information collected by UK Biobank to enhance the precision of patient selection in the clinical trials sponsored by NGM Bio. As the investments required for developing new medicines and the cost of new drugs skyrocket, it is imperative to identify patents who are most likely to benefit from these new therapies. For many modern medicines, genetic screens have been routinely used to identify patients who are eligible for treatments. This has greatly enhanced the clinical outcome for patients in need and saved resources that would otherwise be wasted. NGM Bio is conducting clinical trials evaluating novel therapeutic agents for diseases with unmet medical needs including cancer, liver diseases, and severe morning sickness during pregnancy. In some of those clinical trials, patient genetic information will be collected and analyzed. This will provide an opportunity to uncover any underlying genetic features that might contribute to their response to the treatment. The genetic dataset collected by UK Biobank would be an important reference as we continue to evaluate patients that might benefit from these new therapies. Ultimately, the success of this project will bring about new therapies that would relieve the suffering of patients in need.
