QIAGEN and Eli Lilly co-develop companion diagnostics for analysis of cancer biomarkers

QIAGEN has announced a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company to co-develop universal and modular assay panels for the simultaneous analysis of DNA and RNA biomarkers targeting multiple cellular pathways involved in common cancer types. The agreement includes the development of tests that will be based on QIAGEN’s multi-modal, multi-analyte Modaplex analysis platform, which can process multiple sample types and biomarkers in a single test.

The new collaboration is the fourth project in the two companies’ long-standing partnership. QIAGEN’s therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit was approved in 2012 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a companion diagnostic to detect KRAS gene mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The test indicates which patients would benefit from a tailored oncology therapy marketed by Lilly and Bristol-Myers Squibb. In 2011, QIAGEN and Lilly partnered to develop a companion diagnostic that evaluates a gene mutation which plays a role in some blood cancers. In 2013, QIAGEN announced a third project, to create a companion diagnostic to guide use of an undisclosed Lilly oncology compound.

QIAGEN offers companion diagnostic programs spanning a range of molecular testing platforms, including real-time PCR assays for use on QIAGEN’s QIAsymphony family and next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels. QIAGEN also offers a novel, multi-modal, multi-analyte platform which was added from PrimeraDx. The proprietary technology covers a unique molecular testing approach, enabling laboratories to process multiple samples in a fast, cost-efficient run. The technology allows the analysis of dozens of DNA and RNA biomarkers as well as their copy numbers, expression levels, and mutations in one assay and at the same time. The platform has been cleared by the FDA in December 2013. Learn about molecular diagnostics solutions from QIAGEN.