Foundation Medicine was founded in 2010 with a mission to transform cancer care. Our founders envisioned a world where genomic testing to provide a deep understanding of cancer would be accessible to every physician, researcher and patient to make informed decisions about treatment plans and research priorities. In the years since, we have channeled our founders’ ambitious spirits, driving more than a decade’s worth of achievements and scientific contributions.
We launched the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tissue-based biopsy test for all solid tumors, making comprehensive genomic profiling a more routine part of treatment. Years later, we further expanded access to important genomic information to match more patients to targeted therapies with the FDA approval of a liquid biopsy test for solid tumors. Our powerful portfolio of tests and scientific expertise has helped researchers and biopharmaceutical companies develop new medicines that target cancer in novel ways to fill critical unmet healthcare needs.
This legacy of pioneering science puts us in a unique position to drive the next era of cancer care. Cancer is a disease of the genome, and we have only just begun to unlock our understanding of the genomic mutations driving this disease. The more we learn, the more complex the science becomes. But this complexity also brings the opportunity to diagnose cancer earlier, develop better targeted therapies and monitor a patient’s response to treatment - an opportunity where I am excited Foundation Medicine will continue to be a leader.
To continue delivering the best information on cancer requires us to invest in our future. We recently adopted a leaner, more streamlined organizational structure. This new operating model improves our agility, strategic clarity and prioritization. It helps us strengthen the voice of the customer in product development, elevate our technology and digital capabilities and fuel our research and development engine. I am optimistic about Foundation Medicine’s future and believe our new operating model will accelerate progress toward our goals. However, it has also uncovered areas where we could further streamline, and we made a difficult decision that will see approximately 135 colleagues depart the organization.
We did not make this decision lightly or underestimate how much it might affect the lives of those who are impacted, and we will support them as they transition. Everyone who joins the Foundation Medicine team shares a deep passion and commitment to serving patients, and for those who are leaving our organization, we thank them for their contributions.
I have never been more confident about the opportunities in front of us thanks to the lasting strength of our mission, our commitment to quality and the dedication of our team. Our mission fuels our passion and purpose, and my hope is that in our next decade we will bring patients new breakthroughs, better care and a renewed sense of hope.