BD, Labcorp Ink Agreement for Companion Diagnostics

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) began a collaboration agreement with Labcorp.
 
The two companies will create a framework to develop, manufacture, market, and commercialize flow cytometry-based companion diagnostics (CDx) aimed at matching patients with treatments for cancer and other diseases.
 
The two firms bring together capabilities that create an end-to-end solution for CDx development for the pharmaceutical industry. The joint offering ranges from exploratory panel development to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of IVD kit manufacturing and distribution.
 
“Flow cytometry is a trusted and powerful tool for analyzing cells to better understand disease, and it has tremendous untapped potential as a companion diagnostic in oncology and other therapeutic areas,” Dr. Bill Hanlon, chief scientific officer of Labcorp Drug Development told the press. “This strategic collaboration with BD, a pioneer and global leader in flow cytometry, is an exciting step toward increasing adoption and ultimately bringing innovative new companion diagnostics to market to help identify patients who could benefit most from appropriate treatments.”
 
Current CDx tests commonly involve technologies like immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS), and imaging. Flow cytometry is an emerging technology in the field.
 
“In the companion diagnostic landscape, there is a clear and urgent need for high sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities, and that is where flow cytometry can help,” said Puneet Sarin, president of BD Biosciences. “BD and our dedicated CDx team are uniquely positioned to advance flow cytometry as a companion diagnostic tool, and we are pleased to join forces with Labcorp, a trusted global leader in diagnostic testing and drug development, to pursue opportunities with the pharmaceutical industry to develop new companion diagnostics that can potentially improve patient outcomes and drive us forward in advancing the world of health.”