NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Becton Dickinson today said that its BD Diagnostics unit will collaborate with Lab21 on the development of oncology assays to run on the BD Max molecular diagnostic system.
Cambridge, UK-based Lab21 will develop PCR-based tests for a series of oncology markers, while BD will be responsible for manufacturing and commercializing the tests worldwide. The Franklin Lakes, NJ-based medical products and research tools firm said that the first two assays developed under the collaboration will target KRAS and BRAF mutations.
In addition, the alliance includes the development of novel nucleic acid extraction procedures from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, said BD. Financial and additional terms of the alliance were not disclosed.
Tom Polen, president of BD Diagnostics – Diagnostic Systems, said in a statement that the assays "will provide critical input to support oncologists and their patients in making more informed decisions about their care."
The alliance marks BD's foray into creating personalized cancer diagnostics for the BD Max system.
BD Diagnostics and Lab21 already are collaborating on the development of a molecular test for the detection of the Aspergillus fungus that will run on the BD Max system.