Suzanne Fuqua on Utilizing Predictive Biomarkers

Suzanne A. W. Fuqua, PhD, professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, explains that the rapid pace of preclinical research has led to an explosion in possible biological targets; however, research into new therapeutics for these targets has progressed more slowly.

Fuqua believes the reason that research into therapies for the vast number of new biological targets has progressed more slowly is because many trials fail to incorporate the use of predictive biomarkers in their design. She believes that adding mandatory tissue sampling to clinical trials may help speed up the discovery process.

Once predictive biomarkers can be discovered simultaneously to new therapeutics there will be a rapid dissemination of new targeted therapies in practice, Fuqua suggests.