Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Partners with Pfizer to Develop Companion Diagnostics

The Siemens Clinical Laboratory is to develop new companion diagnostic tests

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, to design, develop and commercialize diagnostic tests for therapeutic products across Pfizer’s pipeline. Under the agreement, Siemens will be one of Pfizer's collaboration partners to develop and provide in vitro diagnostic tests for use in clinical studies and, potentially, eventual global commercialization with Pfizer products.

The Siemens Clinical Laboratory (SCL), a high-complexity testing laboratory focused on advancing personalized medicine, will develop the companion diagnostic tests under the partnership. The collaboration will leverage Siemens' worldwide leadership in providing clinical diagnostic solutions for hospital and reference laboratories, specialty laboratories and point-of-care settings to help enable diagnostics development.

"Companion diagnostics are an important enabler of targeted therapies for patients," states John Hubbard, Senior Vice President and Worldwide Head of Development Operations at Pfizer. "This agreement with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics is another example of Pfizer's commitment to develop new precision medicines to address unmet clinical needs."

"Our relationship with Pfizer marks a major milestone in Siemens' personalized medicine strategy," states Dr. Trevor Hawkins, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Innovations, Diagnostics Division, Siemens Healthcare. "We look forward to collaborating with Pfizer to realize the goal of advancing innovative solutions that change the way patient care is delivered and, together, shape the future of diagnostic medicine."

Companion diagnostic tests are clinical tests linked to a specific drug or therapy intended to assist physicians in making more informed and personalized treatment decisions for their patients. When used in the drug development process, companion diagnostics may help pharmaceutical companies improve patient selection and treatment monitoring, determine the preferred therapy dosing for patients, and establish a protocol to help maximize the treatment benefit for patients.