Genomics plc and GSK announced a new collaboration to explore the potential for using polygenic risk scores (PRS) in clinical trials, to improve understanding of disease risk and patient selection, which could support optimisation of trial design. Genomics plc is a global leader in PRS-powered technologies and approaches and has developed extensive genetic databases and algorithms to understand the genetic component of diseases. Genomics plc and GSK will investigate several applications for Genomics' suite of PRS-powered tools, including the potential for PRS tools to reduce the number of trial participants and shortening study timescales and improving outcomes of both proof-of-concept and pivotal trials.

Genetic factors play a key role in disease susceptibility, progression, and response to drugs. These effects are often a result of many thousands of genetic changes that can be captured as a single number or PRS. This work will explore the opportunity for PRS-based approaches to support patient selection, and understand how that may impact clinical trials through reducing the number of patients recruited or shortening the duration of trials.