As part of the first programme, the companies will develop a CDx for a Boehringer Ingelheim investigational medicine
Illumina and Boehringer Ingelheim have collaborated to develop companion diagnostics for oncology products. (Credit: Illumina, Inc)
Illumina, a provider of integrated systems to analyse genetic variation and biological function, has collaborated with pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim for the development of companion diagnostics (CDx) for oncology products.
Under the deal, the companies will work together to develop CDx products for various programmes in Boehringer Ingelheim’s oncology pipeline.
Both firms intend to boost the development of therapy selection and precision medicines for patients with advanced cancer.
The partnership, which covers current and future CDx programmes, aims to add CDx claims to an in vitro diagnostic test being developed by Illumina based on the content of TruSight Oncology 500 (TSO 500) assay.
As part of the first programme, the companies will develop a CDx for a Boehringer Ingelheim investigational medicine.
Illumina chief strategy and corporate development officer Joydeep Goswami said: “We are delighted that Boehringer Ingelheim has chosen Illumina to be its long-term partner in the development of companion diagnostics for the treatment of cancers.
“Illumina continues to provide the leading distributable assay enabling comprehensive genomic profiling for both tissue and liquid biopsy and together we will unlock the potential of new biomarkers to identify patients most likely to benefit from new precision medicines.”
Designed to detect 523 known and emerging tumour biomarkers, the TSO 500 is a research use only comprehensive pan-cancer assay.
Both DNA and RNA from tumour samples will be used by the assay to detect crucial variants, including small DNA variants, fusions, and splice variants, required for cancer development and progression.
Using the content of TSO 500 assay, Illumina plans to add an in vitro diagnostic test to the TruSight Oncology product family.
The comprehensive tumour profiling assay is expected to feature similar chemistry and analytics to TSO 500 assay.
In August last year, Illumina wrapped up the acquisition of US-based healthcare company GRAIL in a deal worth $8bn.