Flagship Bio, Leica Announce CDx Agreement

Flagship Biosciences announces it has reached agreement with Leica Biosystems to allow its custom algorithms to be utilized in companion diagnostics development on the Aperio ePathology platform. The agreement allows Flagship’s quantitative analysis programs developed with pharmaceutical customers to be delivered on an existing system with a large and growing installed base. Many of these programs take several years to develop, and may coincide with a co-developed therapeutic.

“We are excited to be able to work with Leica Biosystems, the digital pathology company with the largest footprint in both the pharmaceutical industry and clinical sites,” said Dr. Steven Potts, Chief Executive Officer for Flagship Biosciences. “It is critical for our pharmaceutical customers’ quantitative algorithms to have access to a platform with the largest installed base in the market. Knowing that the quantitative pathology approaches can be delivered on the Leica systems helps to mitigate risk and difficulties in transitioning a companion diagnostic to clinical usage.”

“With the Aperio ePathology technology and the Leica BOND automated IHC/ISH staining instruments, Leica is strongly positioned as an optimal partner for companion diagnostics development,” said Michael Cusack, Senior VP and General Manager, North America at Leica Biosystems. “Flagship Biosciences’ ability to leverage Leica’s histology and scanning technology in their CLIA laboratory for companion diagnostics is exciting. This partnership further demonstrates the value of Leica’s ePathology open platform for image analysis content.”