BERLIN, GERMANY: Bayer HealthCare has entered into a strategic partnership with QIAGEN Manchester Ltd for the development of molecular in vitro companion diagnostic tests. These tests shall be used to identify patients most likely to benefit from novel anti-cancer drug candidates developed by Bayer HealthCare.
Companion diagnostic tests aim to unlock molecular information from each patient’s tumour genome to guide treatment decisions with targeted medications for cancer and other diseases. This collaboration will support Bayer HealthCare’s oncological development programme and is part of Bayer HealthCare’s personalized medicine approach.
Qiagen will develop, manufacture and commercialize in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) as a companion diagnostic test for novel targeted anti-cancer therapies developed by Bayer HealthCare, which are currently in early development. The parties also agreed that over a period of five years they may initiate further development projects to develop molecular diagnostic tests in support of additional targeted therapies. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are very pleased to be initiating these development programmes and our partnership with Bayer HealthCare. The collaboration combines Qiagen’s competencies in companion diagnostics with Bayer HealthCare’s drug development expertise in a joint effort to advance new targeted therapies for certain cancers that potentially help to reduce healthcare costs and - most importantly - advance the standard of care for patients,” said Dr Helge Lubenow, Senior Vice President, Molecular Diagnostics, Business Area and Member of the Executive Committee, QIAGEN.
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