Luminex Corp and BD, through its BD Diagnostics-TriPath platform, have announced the signing of a development and supply agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, BD Diagnostics-TriPath will develop, market and sell new biomarker-based diagnostic tests for certain cancers using Luminex’s multiplexing xMAP® Technology platform.
“We believe providing biomarker testing in a multiplex format would allow detection of cancer at an earlier stage. This valuable information allows clinicians to begin treatment sooner, which has been shown to improve outcomes,” said Wayne Brinster, Vice President and General Manager of BD Diagnostics-TriPath. “We look forward to working with Luminex to combine their excellent multiplex platform with our unique combination of cancer biomarkers to offer clinicians innovative diagnostic tools for improved patient management.”
Early cancer detection has been shown to significantly reduce mortality. For example, ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect early because, typically, the disease triggers few noticeable symptoms until it is so far advanced it is difficult to control. Research has shown that the five-year survival rate for women diagnosed in the later stages of the disease is as low as 20 to 30 percent. However, this survival rate can be greater than 90 percent if the disease is detected in its early stages.
BD develops technologies for cervical cancer screening, as well as innovative diagnostic products for the detection of cancer. The Company plans to expand its cancer diagnostic offerings to include a broad menu of new diagnostic tests for solid tumor cancers using Luminex’s xMAP Technology.
xMAP Technology is a proprietary multiplexing platform that allows scientists to conduct multiple, simultaneous tests on one patient sample. Flexible and designed for ease-of-use, it offers researchers and clinicians rapid and accurate results and allows them to save significant time and resources. xMAP Technology can be found in more than 5,400 clinics and laboratories worldwide and is used in 56 products that have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“Cancer is one of the more challenging and deadly diseases we face today, and there is a critical need for more effective diagnostic tests in this arena. This agreement seeks to combine BD’s expertise and global market reach with Luminex’s industry-leading multiplexing technology to create innovative tests that will save lives,” said Douglas Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Luminex.
