NEW YORK – NeoGenomics announced Tuesday a strategic collaboration with liquid biopsy firm Inivata for the commercialization of Inivata's InVisionFirst-Lung test in the US.
As part of the collaboration, the companies will also seek to partner with biopharmaceutical companies around Inivata's liquid biopsy platform, potentially accelerating the rollout of some of Inivata's other products, including its RaDaR test to detect residual disease and recurrence.
Fort Myers, Florida-based NeoGenomics will also make a $25 million equity investment in Cambridge, UK-based Inivata, taking a minority shareholding with an option to buy the company outright. The company will also have a seat on Inivata's board of directors. Inivata said the investment will be used to accelerate development of its liquid biopsy products, including RaDaR.
The InVisionFirst-Lung next-generation sequencing test assesses alterations in 37 genes and provides results within one week. The circulating tumor DNA test received a local coverage determination from Medicare administrative contractor Palmetto GBA for patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer last year, and other contractors later followed suit.
NeoGenomics aims to help drive adoption among its community setting oncologist base, which has a high demand for a liquid-based test, according to an analyst note from Puneet Souda at SVB Leerink.