Sysmex and LabCorp Announce a Strategic Collaboration
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Sysmex Corporation and Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp®) have announced a strategic collaboration focused on the development of blood-based molecular diagnostic tests to advance precision medicine in oncology.
The collaboration combines Sysmex Inostics’ strength in the development of innovative blood-based diagnostic solutions with LabCorp's unparalleled capabilities: global leadership in precision medicine through Covance Drug Development’s (Covance) extensive involvement in oncology clinical trials and a unique ability to commercialize clinically-relevant diagnostic tests through LabCorp Diagnostics as such applications are developed.
The Sysmex OncoBEAM™ and Plasma Sequencing assays allow for molecular genetic analysis of cell-free tumor DNA from blood samples. These technologies, often referred to as liquid biopsies, provide non-invasive alternatives to biopsies under specific circumstances and are designed to determine the mutational status of a patient’s tumor. These highly-sensitive methods allow for the potential selection of appropriate therapeutic agents and, in some cases, may eliminate the need for further surgeries or biopsies.
Moreover, blood-based diagnostic DNA tests can be performed when no tumor tissue is available and utilized to serially monitor tumor changes in patients over time or in response to therapeutic treatment.
The OncoBEAM™ assays target a wide variety of clinically actionable genetic mutations in cancer and, along with sequencing-based evaluation of circulating tumor DNA through Plasma Sequencing, offer biopharmaceutical companies powerful tools for developing new therapeutic options.
Under the terms of this collaboration, Sysmex Inostics will provide reagents and, when appropriate, services to enable Covance’s central laboratory to perform OncoBEAM™ and Plasma Sequencing testing services in its global locations to support oncology clinical trials.
In addition, as clinical utility of these technologies is further characterized through ongoing clinical trials, the parties will evaluate opportunities to develop commercial applications for Sysmex’s technologies in clinical diagnostics.
“We are very pleased to enter into this strategic collaboration with LabCorp,” said Hisashi Ietsugu, Chairman and CEO of Sysmex Corporation. “This collaboration will allow us to expand Sysmex Inostics’ testing services and products using LabCorp’s worldwide network of central laboratory locations and potentially accelerate the development of new cancer therapies. Further, as clinical evidence develops, Sysmex and LabCorp will evaluate opportunities together to commercialize precision medicine in oncology in support of improved patient outcomes.”
“As an industry leader in delivering both world-class diagnostics and drug development services, we are uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive testing solutions in the growing cancer market,” said David P. King, Chairman and CEO of LabCorp. “Our expanded relationship with Sysmex furthers our ability to bring innovative technologies that assist in the development of new oncology treatments to patients and builds upon our core mission of improving health and improving lives.”
