Bengaluru: 4baseCare on Tuesday launched TARGT Indiegene® V2, the next generation of its comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) test for cancer biomarker testing, expanding the test to 2,206 genes and introducing biology‑led measures aimed at understanding tumour behaviour beyond single mutations.
What the new test offers
The company said Indiegene V2 builds on five years of clinical experience and genomic data generated from Indian tumours since the first Indiegene was introduced on 15 August 2021. Key capabilities highlighted by 4baseCare include:
- 2,206 genes for broad genomic profiling across cancer types.
- Coverage mapped against the Hallmarks of Cancer to interpret biological processes that drive tumour growth and progression.
- Immunotherapy biomarkers such as microsatellite instability (MSI) and an individualised Tumour Mutation Burden (iTMB) score with percentile reporting.
- HRD (homologous recombination deficiency) scoring and profiling of 36 HRR (homologous recombination repair) genes.
- Detection of copy‑number variations (CNVs) and 299 clinically relevant gene fusions, described by the company as among the most extensive fusion coverage in commercial CGP assays.
The firm framed the upgrade as a conceptual shift: rather than seeking isolated biomarker hits, the panel aims to expose the biological programmes — such as DNA repair, immune evasion and proliferative signalling — that shape how tumours behave and respond to therapy.
“Indiegene V2 is not simply a larger gene panel. It represents a shift from looking for individual biomarkers to understanding the biology behind cancer,” said Hitesh Goswami, Co‑founder & CEO, 4baseCare.
Why this matters for India
Precision oncology tests guide treatment selection, enrolment into targeted‑therapy programmes and eligibility for immunotherapies. By expanding genomic breadth and adding functional scores such as HRD and iTMB, the new test could affect clinical decision pathways and trial matching for Indian patients, particularly where standard single‑gene tests miss complex genomic contexts.
4baseCare positions Indiegene V2 as a product built from locally derived tumour genomics, which the company says helps make comprehensive profiling more applicable to diverse populations. The upgrade may reduce the need for multiple separate tests by combining single‑nucleotide variants, small insertions/deletions, copy‑number changes and gene fusions into one assay.
Practical considerations and context
While broader panels can deliver more actionable information, they also pose operational and interpretive challenges for clinicians and laboratories. Larger gene sets tend to increase data complexity, turnaround time and reporting burden. Health systems and oncology teams will need robust bioinformatics, standardised reporting and clinical interpretation frameworks to translate results into treatment choices.
Cost implications were not disclosed in the announcement. In India, access to CGP hinges not only on test accuracy but on affordability, laboratory capacity and clinician familiarity. The company’s claim of extensive fusion coverage and added scores such as iTMB and HRD will carry weight only if backed by analytical validation and clinical utility data, and if results are integrated into treatment pathways or clinical trials.
| Feature | Indiegene V2 |
|---|---|
| Gene count | 2,206 |
| HRR genes profiled | 36 |
| Fusions reported | 299 |
| Immunotherapy metrics | MSI, iTMB with percentile scoring |
4baseCare said the product is intended for deployment across clinicians and patients in global markets, though the company’s statement emphasised its origins in Indian tumour genomics. The announcement did not specify price, regulatory approvals, partner laboratories or the expected rollout timetable for hospitals and diagnostic chains.
For oncologists and pathology labs, the central questions will be verification of clinical performance, integration with existing workflows and reimbursement models. If adopted, a single CGP with broad coverage could streamline biomarker testing for many cancer patients, while also raising the need for clinician education on interpreting composite biological scores.
The launch highlights continuing growth in India’s precision oncology sector, with local firms developing tests tailored to domestic genomic diversity and clinical contexts. Whether Indiegene V2 changes practice will depend on published validation, peer use and how health systems absorb broader, biologically oriented genomic reports into patient care.
