AI-driven precision medicine company Sophia Genetics is partnering with Synnovis to expand access to liquid biopsy testing for lung and breast cancer patients across the UK under NHS England’s “blood test-first” cancer care initiative.
AI-Powered Blood Testing Technology
The collaboration will see Synnovis deploy its liquid biopsy test, a technology designed to detect actionable genomic alterations from a single blood sample. Originally developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the test uses artificial intelligence to analyse circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) through a minimally invasive procedure.
Faster Access to Personalised Cancer Treatment
Healthcare leaders say the blood-based approach could significantly shorten the time it takes for patients to begin targeted cancer therapies. According to Synnovis, the testing platform can help some patients access personalised treatment up to two weeks earlier while reducing the need for additional invasive procedures.
Pilot Programme Demonstrates Clinical Impact
The rollout follows a successful pilot programme in which Synnovis supported approximately 400 patients per month with ctDNA testing. The organisation highlighted several cases demonstrating the technology’s clinical impact, including one patient with suspected advanced lung cancer who received a personalised treatment plan within two weeks.
In another case, clinicians identified new genetic variants in a patient living with breast cancer for more than 15 years, opening the door to additional therapies and potential clinical trial eligibility.
Potential to Reach Thousands of Patients Annually
The partners estimate the platform could eventually be used to test around 7,000 breast and lung cancer patients annually, roughly one-third of all ctDNA tests conducted in England, as demand for liquid biopsy services continues to rise.
Synnovis on the Benefits of Liquid Biopsy
“Liquid biopsy testing simplifies how we generate genomic insights,” said Persephone du Parcq. “A routine blood draw can reveal information from multiple tumour sites and speed up delivery of results to patients. It also broadens access for patients who cannot tolerate invasive procedures or travel to specialist hospitals.”
Sophia Genetics Calls Partnership a Milestone for Precision Oncology
Ross Muken described the partnership as a major step forward for precision oncology within the NHS.
“This partnership reflects what becomes possible when world-class pathology infrastructure meets scalable AI-driven analysis,” Muken said. “We see this as a defining moment for liquid biopsy at scale within the NHS and a model for how health systems in Europe can make precision oncology accessible.”
Improving Accuracy Through Advanced Genomic Analysis
In addition to accelerating targeted treatment decisions, the platform includes a matched tumor-normal testing approach and technology aimed at improving accuracy and reducing false-positive results.
Supporting NHS England’s Genomic Medicine Strategy
The expansion also aligns with NHS England’s broader strategy to strengthen genomic medicine services through distributed analysis hubs and locally managed testing infrastructure. Synnovis joins a growing network of NHS institutions adopting Sophia Genetics’ technology to support secure, data-driven cancer care across the country.
