NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – IncellDx and Bristol-Myers Squibb have signed an agreement to develop a molecular test that may eventually be used as a companion diagnostic to identify best responders to an investigational drug in BMS's pipeline.
The test that the partners are developing will be based on IncellDx's quantitative InCellCept assay, a cell-based instrument that quantifies molecular biomarkers inside intact cells. "This allows protein and gene expression to be measured by distinct cell type, which aids both diagnosis and disease localization," the partners said in a statement announcing the deal.
The companies didn't disclose the financial terms of the deal and they didn't name the investigational drug program for which the test will be used.
If the partnership is successful through the initial development phase, BMS and IncellDx said they have the option to extend the deal to develop a companion test "to determine phenotypic susceptibility of patients' disease prior to treatment."