Bayer and Leica Biosystems unite to fight cancer

Bayer has entered into an agreement with Leica Biosystems to collaborate on the development of companion diagnostic tests based on tissue samples using RNAscope (a multiplex nucleic acid hybridization technology) and immunohistochemistry for cancer patients.

Companion diagnostic tests aim to unlock molecular information from each patient to guide treatment decisions with targeted medications for cancer and other diseases. Early screening for patient-specific tumor markers will also help to design more efficient clinical trials and eventually increases the overall probability of therapeutic success for patients suffering from cancer, Bayer said in its press release on Wednesday.

 Prof. Andreas Busch, member of the Executive Committee of Bayer AG’s Pharmaceuticals Division and Head of Drug Discovery commented: “This represents another important step for Bayer towards a more personalized approach in the fight against cancer.”

“The promise of personalized medicine relies upon high quality diagnostic tests to identify the specific patient populations that are most likely to benefit from the therapy”, said Jonathan Roy, Vice President of Pharma Partnerships at Leica Biosystems.

Under the terms of the agreement with Leica Biosystems the partners will use Leica Biosystems expertise in assay development, regulatory approval and commercialization of companion diagnostic tests based on the automated BOND technology platform for novel targeted anti-cancer therapies developed by Bayer. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.