Siemens and Pfizer to collaborate on diagnostic tests

Siemens has entered into a master collaboration agreement with pharmaceutical company Pfizer in the field of companion diagnostics.

The alliance will see Siemens working to design, develop and commercialise diagnostic tests for therapeutic products across Pfizer's pipeline, leveraging its proven expertise in creating clinical diagnostic solutions for hospital and reference laboratories.

It will become one of Pfizer's collaborative partners in the development and provision of in vitro diagnostic tests for use in clinical studies and potential eventual global commercialisation alongside Pfizer products.

Companion diagnostic tests are clinical tests linked to a specific drug or therapy that help doctors to determine which patients will be most likely to benefit from specific treatment approaches.

Dr Trevor Hawkins, senior vice-president for strategy and innovations at the diagnostics division of Siemens Healthcare, said: "We look forward to collaborating with Pfizer to realise the goal of advancing innovative solutions that change the way patient care is delivered and, together, shape the future of diagnostic medicine."

This comes after the company agreed to create a companion diagnostic test associated with a new heart failure therapy from Janssen earlier this year.