Molecular diagnostics firm Biodesix has expanded its lung franchise with the acquisition of Seattle-based Integrated Diagnostics (Indi).

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Image: Biodesix is based in Boulder, Colorado. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.

The agreement includes the XL2 test, Indi’s lead oncology product, which offers a noninvasive means of ruling out cancer for patients with suspicious lung nodules. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Every year, health care providers in the United States discover more than 1.6 million lung nodules in patients. It is often challenging and costly to determine whether these nodules are malignant or benign.

The XL2 test is a pulmonary nodule classifier that measures blood proteins to identify lung nodules that have a high probability of being benign. Data from the PANOPTIC (PulmonAry NOdule Plasma proTeomIc Classifier) clinical trial, which were published in the journal CHEST, demonstrate that in a subset of patients with low-to-moderate risk lung nodules, XL2 is 98 percent effective at distinguishing benign nodules from those that are malignant.

Biodesix CEO David Brunel said: “The team at Indi has developed and substantially validated an important test that helps physicians better manage patients who present with a suspicious nodule in their lung.

“Adding XL2 to our portfolio demonstrates our commitment to helping physicians and patients battle lung disease across a continuum of clinical presentations.”

The Biodesix VeriStrat® proteomic test provides objective prognostic information independent of treatment choice, including immunotherapy. The GeneStrat® genomic test measures actionable mutations for non-small cell lung cancer to further inform therapeutic decisions and monitoring.

Biodesix chief operating officer Scott Hutton said: “XL2 is a perfect complement to our existing commercial blood-based lung cancer tests, which make use of advanced proteomic and genomic technology to support more informed treatment decisions.”

Integrated Diagnostics CEO Al Luderer said: “We’ve been actively exploring the optimal path to bring XL2 to the market since 2017, when we validated our test.

“Indi and Biodesix share important values and technologic synergies that make us ideal partners, including a singular focus on providing high-value, blood-based diagnostic products for lung disease and the expert application of advanced mass spectrometry and informatics. Additionally, we are impressed by Biodesix’s rapidly expanding commercial presence and extensive lung disease product pipeline.”