The value of the companion diagnostics market is predicted to expand to nearly US $14B by 2030, driven in part by the power of these tests to inform treatment decisions for a growing range of cancers and other chronic diseases. Developed for use with targeted therapeutics, companion diagnostics are used to evaluate expression of biomarkers and identify patients that are likely to benefit from treatment with the targeted therapeutic products. 

The agreement between Agilent and Incyte allows the companies to collaborate on CDx development programs. This will enable Agilent to continue to expand its companion diagnostics portfolio with novel biomarkers and Incyte to leverage Agilent’s expertise in IVD assay development, global regulatory approvals, and commercialization to support clinical trials as well as the potential registration and commercialization of CDx in the United States and Europe. 

Paul Beresford, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Companion Diagnostics Division,  discussed the significance of the partnership: “Leveraging the power of companion diagnostics, we are strategically transforming the treatment paradigm for a broad spectrum of cancers. By working together, Agilent and Incyte hope to expedite the development of innovative precision medicine products, potentially paving the way for enhanced patient health outcomes.” 

Jeff Jackson, group vice president of Translational Medicine at Incyte added: “Agilent’s expertise in the development of companion diagnostics is impressive, as is their regulatory and commercialization record. We are excited about the collaboration and look forward to working together to innovate in support of patients.” 

With an established and growing portfolio of world-class chemistries and technologies, Agilent has a strong track record as a provider and partner for companion diagnostics development across the precision oncology sector. This year, Agilent celebrates the 25th  anniversary of HercepTest, a critical tool for assessing HER2 expression in breast cancers. Since the launch of HercepTest, Agilent has introduced several additional CDx tests. Among these, the PDL-1 IHC 22C3 franchise has been particularly successful, offering a continually expanding range of tests for assessing PDL-1 expression.