Collaboration announced to develop blood-based companion diagnostic tests
In a recent press release, Bayer HealthCare announced a collaboration with Sysmex Inostics for the development of blood-based companion diagnostic tests.
Global company Bayer Healthcare will team their expertise in anticancer agents with Sysmex Inostic’s innovative blood-based diagnostic assays. Sysmex Inostics, a subsidiary of Sysmex Corporation, will further develop their BEAMing technology, which enables the sensitive detection of tumor DNA circulating in the bloodstream.
Andreas Busch, Head of Global Drug Discovery and Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer HealthCare said, “We are excited to collaborate with the team at Sysmex Inostics on the development of blood-based companion diagnostic tests for our novel targeted therapies in oncology.” Busch added, “With this collaboration, we continue to strengthen our engagement in the field of personalized medicine with the aim of developing innovative therapies for cancer patients.”
Companion diagnostic tests help select suitable treatments for patients by analyzing the molecular characteristics of the tumor. This, therefore, allows selection of patients that will benefit from a particular anticancer treatment. Busch explains the advantages of such assays, “Blood-based DNA tests provide diagnostic options for cancer patients without tumor biopsies being necessary.”
Frank Diehl, Chief Scientific Officer of Sysmex Inostics commented on the collaboration, “We are pleased to partner with Bayer HealthCare, a global company with an extensive drug development expertise and a broadening oncology franchise, to advance new targeted therapies for cancer patients.” Diehl concluded, “With our innovative technology for blood-based companion diagnostics we will open up new possibilities in personalized medicine together with Bayer.”
