Dako Announces Collaboration on Development of PD-L1 Companion Diagnostic Test for Investigational Cancer Drug Opdivo® (nivolumab)

Dako, an Agilent Technologies company ("Agilent") and a worldwide provider of cancer diagnostics, and ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. ("ONO"), has announced a new partnership to develop a potential diagnostic test specifically for use with Opdivo in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This test is being investigated for its diagnostic utility to determine which patients are most likely to respond to Opdivo.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, and is responsible for more than 1.5 million deaths per year¹. The demand for personalized medicine continues to increase as it may provide a way to both improve patient care and better manage health care costs by targeting treatment to the individuals most likely to benefit from it.

"We are pleased to be chosen as ONO’s partner for the development of a companion diagnostic test for this promising drug. Today’s announcement follows several other collaborative agreements in the companion diagnostics area by Agilent’s Dako business," said Jacob Thaysen, president of Agilent's Diagnostics and Genomics Group.

"We are delighted to collaborate with Dako, a global leader in diagnostics, and this partnership contributes to value maximization of Opdivo," said Gyo Sagara, president, representative director and CEO, ONO.
The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

References:
1. Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M, Parkin DM, Forman D, Bray, F. GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2013. Available from: globocan.iarc.fr, accessed on 21/November/2014.