Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) is joining forces with Illumina (NSDQ:ILMN) to develop and commercialize diagnostic tests to support Bristol’s portfolio of cancer drugs.
The companies announced last week that they plan to develop an assay to measure predictive genomic biomarkers, like tumor mutation burden, that could help doctors identify patients that will benefit from Bristol’s immunotherapies.
“Through our deep understanding of cancer biology and emerging research, we recognize the importance for physicians to know each patient’s biomarker status to help fight their cancer in a more personalized way,” Dr. Saurabh Saha, SVP & global head of translational medicine for Bristol, said in prepared remarks.
“The identification of biomarkers for targeted therapies is emerging as a key part of a cancer patient’s journey, from treatment selection through response monitoring and allows physicians to follow the evolution of a patient’s tumor over time,” Garret Hampton, EVP of clinical genomics at Illumina, added.
Bristol has an array of products in its pipeline designed to trigger the immune system in cancer patients, including 24 clinical-stage molecules, the company touted.
