Biodesix Inc, Boulder, Colo, and Bioyong Technology Company Ltd, Beijing, China, have entered into an international collaboration agreement under which Bioyong will develop and commercialize a version of Biodesix’s VeriStrat proteomic blood test—a precision medicine diagnostic for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—for clinical use in greater China, with potential expansion into other Asia-Pacific countries.
Bioyong will perform its version of the VeriStrat test on its Clin-TOF matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry platform. The two companies will also collaborate on the development of new mass spectrometry-based assays in oncology and other clinical areas.
The collaboration calls for significant technology transfer of Biodesix’s proprietary MALDI methods and development of the company’s commercial tests for greater China. Bioyong will make investments in the development, clinical validation, regulatory approval, and commercialization of a version of the VeriStrat test in its territory. The parties will collaborate on advancing MALDI technologies for clinical use. Bioyong will pay Biodesix approximately $38 million over the life of the collaboration.
With nearly 850,000 new lung cancer diagnoses predicted for 2020, China represents approximately 37% of new cases worldwide.
“We believe that cancer is a global problem,” says David Brunel, CEO of Biodesix. “Patients and their physicians everywhere want cancer treatment that is grounded in precision medicine, including therapy selection that reflects the full spectrum of biological information provided by our multivariate molecular and proteomic assays. By collaborating with Bioyong, we are taking a major step toward making our technology available to a large portion of the world’s lung cancer patients.”
“We are excited to collaborate with Biodesix to bring a version of the VeriStrat testing to patients in greater China, and potentially beyond,” says Qingwei Ma, founder and chairman of Bioyong. “Building on our leadership in the clinical application of mass spectrometry, Bioyong looks forward to helping physicians make more informed treatment decisions, and provide better recovery and prognostic possibilities for patients suffering from lung cancer.”