Leica Biosystems, a Danaher company, announced an expansion of its strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo to develop an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay and image analysis algorithm, specifically for the TROP2 Normalized Membrane Ratio (NMR) biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer, for use as a research tool only.
The collaboration, first announced in May 2025, is built on AstraZeneca’s proprietary computational pathology algorithm, Quantitative Continuous Scoring (QCS), using Leica Biosystems’ leading digital pathology solutions and IHC assay development capabilities. It establishes an end-to-end solution to assess a novel biomarker that incorporates both membrane and cytoplasmic expression. This approach advances the application of digital and computational pathology tools, including AI‑assisted algorithms, to enable the development of diagnostic approaches that have the potential to identify patients most likely to benefit from targeted therapies.
The collaboration will leverage the BOND RX research stainer, BOND-III clinical stainer, Aperio GT 450 scanner, and the Aperio HALO AP image management system from Leica Biosystems to support rapid development and global deployment of computational image analysis algorithms. The TROP2 NMR algorithm will be delivered through the Aperio AI Store, the open marketplace for AI and image analysis solutions from Leica Biosystems, enabling users to evaluate and deploy tools within a unified digital and computational pathology platform.
Read Leica's announcement here
