Pillar Biosciences

Pillar Biosciences is a company focused on developing and distributing next-generation sequencing (NGS) tests for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Their proprietary SLIMamp and PiVAT technologies enable highly accurate and sensitive NGS testing solutions that facilitate localized testing, reducing diagnostic costs and improving access to complex NGS testing.

Pillar's flagship product is the oncoReveal Dx, an FDA-approved in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit for tumor profiling and therapy selection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). In April 2024, the oncoReveal CDx pan-cancer solid tumor IVD received FDA approval for general tumor profiling on the Illumina MiSeq Dx System, expanding its utility to most common solid cancer types. This single-day workflow panel covers 22 clinically relevant genes and enables batching up to 46 samples per run.

Beyond oncoReveal Dx, Pillar offers over 20 NGS testing kits in IVD or research-use-only (RUO) formats, including the oncoReveal Core LBx liquid biopsy panel launched in September 2023 for localized pan-cancer tumor profiling from circulating cell-free DNA. As of November 2023, the company had multiple panels in development stages, such as a tumor-informed minimal residual disease (MRD) assay.

Key customers and partnerships

In July 2023, Pillar Biosciences partnered with Illumina to make its oncology assays commercially available globally through Illumina's product portfolio, facilitating seamless integration with Illumina sequencers for faster turnaround times. Other notable partnerships include that with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to develop NGS applications for automation on the Biomek NGeniuS Next Generation Library Prep System.