Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has signed Dako on to develop pharmacodiagnostic tests that BMS can use during clinical testing of its drug candidates. The tests are intended to identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment with the respective investigational drugs.
The agreement reportedly builds on a collaboration begun in 2008. It will leverage Dako’s expertise in diagnostic development. The company had developed a number of products based on its pharmDx platform, including c-Kit, EGFR, ER/PR, HercepTest, HER2 FISH, and TOP2A FISH kits.
Most recently, Dako received FDA approval for HercepTest and HER2 FISH for stomach cancer, making it the first company to get U.S. sanction for a Her2 stomach cancer test. The firm also entered into agreement with AstraZeneca on the development of companion diagnostics for targeted cancer treatments.