Partnership Seeks to Improve Lung Cancer Diagnostic Testing

Horizon Diagnostics has signed a strategic partnership agreement with UK NEQAS focussing on the development of genetically defined reference standards for novel lung cancer biomarkers. The reference materials, containing defined allelic ratios will be used to minimise variability involved in FISH and IHC based diagnostic testing, to guide prescription of targeted cancer therapies.

Under the agreement UK NEQAS ICC (the UK National External Quality Assessment Service), will receive an exclusive license to distribute reference standards related to certain lung cancer biomarkers in the UK and in Europe for the sole purpose of proficiency testing within its quality assessment programme.

Dr Paul Morrill, Commercial Director, Horizon Discovery, commented: “Newly discovered mutations are rapidly shaping how and when novel cancer therapies are prescribed, and quality assurance for diagnostics is a key factor in the prescription of these therapies. Through this partnership with UK NEQAS, we look forward to seeing our genetically defined reference standards adopted in proficiency schemes and as batch controls, ultimately helping to improve the accuracy of diagnostic testing for patients.”

Keith Miller, Director of UK NEQAS ICC, commented: “Horizon’s application of its gene editing technology in development of reference standards is ideally suited to  diagnostics proficiency testing. We look forward to working with them as the field of cancer therapeutics moves increasingly toward a more personalised approach.”