NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Agena Bioscience has partnered with Simcere Diagnostics to develop and market companion diagnostics and pharmacogenomic tests in China, the companies announced today.
Under the terms of the deal, Nanjing-based Simere Diagnostics — a subsidiary of Simcere Pharmaceutical — will develop companion diagnostic and pharmacogenomic panels based on Agena's MassArray mass spectrometry-based genetic analysis system in 384-well format for the Chinese market. Agena's recently expanded commercial operations team in the region will support Simcere Diagnostics' efforts.
Additional terms were not disclosed.
"We are proud to have been chosen by Simcere Diagnostics, a highly respected pharmaceutical innovator with strong channels to China's hospital networks," Agena CEO Peter Dansky said in a statement. "There is great synergy between the goals of our organizations, and we look forward to seeing the commercialization of new companion diagnostics and the growth of PGx testing in China."
China has been a key focus for Agena in recent years. In 2015, the company established a subsidiary in Shanghai, and the next year it partnered with DaRui Biotechnology to develop a menu of in vitro diagnostic tests for cancer and inherited diseases for China. Also in 2016, it partnered with CapitalBio Technology to develop MassArray-based tests for agricultural applications in China.