Dako agrees companion diagnostics alliance with Lilly

Dako has signed a master framework agreement with Lilly for the development of new companion diagnostic tools for cancer patients.

Under the terms of the collaborative alliance, the companies will work to create companion diagnostic tests to identify patients who may be more likely to benefit from an investigational oncology medicine currently being researched by Lilly.

This will strengthen both organisations commitment to the advancement of personalised approaches to treating cancer, which are thought to offer significant potential in creating better outcomes for patients.

Lars Holmkvist, chief executive officer of Dako and senior vice-president at parent company Agilent Technologies, said: "I am excited about what we may accomplish together for the benefit of patients worldwide. This agreement heralds our mutual commitment to fighting cancer."

This comes after Dako announced last month that it has acquired the intellectual property rights for connectivity software from the California-based technology firm System Dynamics, thus strengthening its cancer diagnostic development capabilities.