Illumina Is Using IBM Watson To Get DNA Tests To More Cancer Patients

For patients with cancer, sequencing tumors can be a beneficial way to improve targeted treatments and connect people with the right drugs, but the process is complicated and many clinics haven't gotten on board yet. Illumina, the biotechnology behemoth known for its DNA sequencing machines, hopes so. The company is now working with IBM Watson to help cancer patients get access to potentially life-saving DNA tests. "Less than 5% of cancer patients have their tumors sequenced, even though it can make a big difference in selecting the right therapies," Illumina's CEO, Francis deSouza, tells Fast Company. Currently, such testing is limited to the top medical and oncology centers globally, while targeted approaches--with the exception of some forms of lung cancer--are not common practice for most cancers.