Pharmaceutical companies are keen to have a stake in the personalized medicine market, viewed as a growing trend in the future of healthcare and a significant source of life science innovation. As part of that trend, Siemens‘ (NYSE: SI) diagnostics division has agreed to develop companion diagnostics for Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) drugs across therapeutic areas, according to a company statement. The idea is to ensure that each person receives drugs best suited to each person.
As part of the master agreement, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics will design, develop and commercialize these diagnostic tests. Siemens will be one of a group of Pfizer collaboration partners to provide in vitro diagnostic tests for clinical studies and, potentially, global commercialization with Pfizer, according to the statement.
It’s not the first time Siemens has collaborated with Pfizer on a companion diagnostic. Last year it began to work with Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline’s (NYSE: GSK) HIV/AIDS treatment group ViiV Healthcare to produce a companion test for their drug, Selzentry. It’s also collaborating with Janssen. In June it agreed to design, develop and commercialize a companion diagnostic test associated with an early-stage compound Janssen is developing to treat heart failure.
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The benefits of companion diagnostic tests are not only to ensure that patients receive a particular drug or treatment that has a higher likelihood of effectiveness. They are also to improve the effectiveness of clinical trials and, potentially, the success rate. Pharmaceutical companies use them in clinical trials to screen potential clinical trial participants and determine optimum dosing for patients. They can also be used to determine whether patients are less likely or more likely to suffer a particular side effect.
Although these tests are often developed around the same time as a drug, and are subject to FDA regulations, they can also be developed for drugs already approved by the FDA.
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