BD, QUEST DIAGNOSTICS JOIN FORCES TO DEVELOP COMPANION DIAGNOSTICS FOR CANCER, OTHER DISEASES

BD and Quest Diagnostics, a leader in diagnostic information services, announced a global collaboration agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize flow cytometry-based companion diagnostics (CDx) intended to help select the best treatment for patients with cancer and other diseases.

Together, BD and Quest will aim to provide the pharmaceutical industry with an end-to-end solution for CDx development. The joint offerings will range from exploratory panel development to the manufacturing and distribution of FDA-approved diagnostic kits.

Using companion diagnostics to help select a first-line therapy for cancer patients can be critical to ensuring the best outcomes and cost savings. Today's companion diagnostic tests commonly involve technologies such as immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and imaging.

Flow cytometry, an established laboratory technology now being applied in the development of companion diagnostics, can rapidly analyze and sort individual cells to enable healthcare providers to understand an individual's immune response and could provide insight as to how best to manage the patient to improve clinical outcomes.

Through its BioPharma services business, Quest Diagnostics offers end-to-end solutions for drug development, including clinical trial lab testing, companion diagnostic development, commercialization, and post-launch surveillance.