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Flow cytometry is a powerful, emerging technology that can help medical professionals better understand disease, according to Dr. Bill Hanlon, chief scientific officer of Labcorp Drug Development. 

Now, Franklin Lakes medical tech company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.) will collaborate with Labcorp, a North Carolina-based life sciences company, to develop, manufacture, market and commercialize flow cytometry-based companion diagnostics (CDx) to match patients with treatments for cancer and other diseases. 

“Flow cytometry is a trusted and powerful tool for analyzing cells to better understand disease, and it has tremendous untapped potential as a companion diagnostic in oncology and other therapeutic areas,” Hanlon said in an Aug. 9 announcement. 

“This strategic collaboration with BD, a pioneer and global leader in flow cytometry, is an exciting step toward increasing adoption and ultimately bringing innovative new companion diagnostics to market to help identify patients who could benefit most from appropriate treatments,” he continued. 

As part of the agreement, BD and Labcorp will collaborate on flow cytometry-based CDx opportunities with pharmaceutical partners. Together, they can offer exploratory panel development, U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of diagnostic and IVD kit manufacturing and distribution, and more. 

“In the companion diagnostic landscape, there is a clear and urgent need for high sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities, and that is where flow cytometry can help,” said Puneet Sarin, president of BD Biosciences. 

“BD and our dedicated CDx team are uniquely positioned to advance flow cytometry as a companion diagnostic tool, and we are pleased to join forces with Labcorp, a trusted global leader in diagnostic testing and drug development, to pursue opportunities with the pharmaceutical industry to develop new companion diagnostics that can potentially improve patient outcomes and drive us forward in advancing the world of health,” Sarin added.