NEW YORK – Pillar Biosciences and AstraZeneca said Tuesday that they have partnered to expand next-generation sequencing-based liquid biopsy testing in Europe.
In a statement, the firms said they aim to rapidly identify tumors with clinically actionable genomic alterations using Pillar's OncoReveal Core LBx, Essential LBx, and Fusion LBx research-use-only kits.
Financial and other terms are "confidential," a Pillar spokesperson said in an email, "but the companies will collaborate to improve access to liquid biopsy testing and to drive health equity."
"These kit-based methods allow a broad range of laboratories to perform high-quality NGS testing, which improves patient access to targeted therapies," John Longshore, AstraZeneca's head of scientific affairs for global oncology diagnostics, said in a statement. "Pillar Biosciences sequencing panels provide rapid, simplified NGS workflows and bioinformatics, which are ideal to supporting our global efforts."
Pillar's Core LBx panel interrogates 104 genes in circulating, cell-free tumor DNA while the Essential LBx panel interrogates 34 genes; Fusion LBx interrogates fusion forms from 18 cancer driver genes in cell-free tumor RNA.
In 2023, Natick, Massachusetts-based Pillar partnered with Illumina to distribute its oncology assays around the world.
AstraZeneca also has partnered with several other firms on liquid biopsies, including Angle, Sophia Genetics, IMBdx, and Guardant Health.