NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Seegene and Samsung Medical Center today said they will collaborate to develop new molecular diagnostics tests directed at cancer.
The partnership combines Seegene's MDx technology with Samsung's clinical and disease pathology expertise, the two firms said. They added that Samsung will provide the first test sites for the diagnostic products.
The tests will be based on Seegene's multiplex PCR and real-time PCR technology to detect genetic mutations suggestive of certain cancers. Initial indications of interest are non-small-cell lung cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma.
According to the firms, the deal launches Seegene into the personalized medicine space, and as part of the deal, the South Korean firm, which went public in September, will develop new tests for drug resistance and to test for single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Clinicians will be able to use tests to profile patients to understand how they are likely to respond to cancer therapies and whether the cancer will return or has metastasized, the companies said.
Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.