NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – German pathology products developer Leica Biosystems is teaming up with RNA biomarker analysis firm Advanced Cell Diagnostics to develop and commercialize tissue-based diagnostic tests, the companies announced today.
The new diagnostics will combine ACD's RNAscope in situ hybridization assays with Leica's BOND clinical advanced staining instruments, the firms added. The tests will be co-branded and commercialized exclusively by Leica for use in clinical laboratories.
Further terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Combining the two technologies will allow companies and labs in the clinical market to use RNA-based biomarker tests as part of their normal pathology workflow, the companies said. The probes and reagents of the RNAscope LS — assays jointly launched by the two firms in 2014 — running on the BOND RX instrument will also be upgraded into ready-to-use kits with streamlined software, making the system easier to use.
"We're very excited about the deepening partnership with Leica Biosystems," said ACD's CEO Yuling Luo in a statement. "The adoption of RNAscope technology onto Leica Biosystems' clinical advanced staining instruments creates a new paradigm for tissue-based diagnostics."
ACD and Leica expect to commercialize their clinical diagnostics in the first half of the year.