Illumina, ArcherDx Expand Partnership on NGS IVD Tests

NEW YORK – ArcherDx today announced a non-exclusive partnership with Illumina to develop next-generation sequencing-based in vitro diagnostic tests. 

Under the terms of the agreement, ArcherDx will develop IVD test kits to run on Illumina's NextSeq 550Dx clinical sequencing system, including ArcherDx's future portfolio of IVD companion diagnostic tests used to facilitate targeted therapy selection and tests for monitoring minimal residual disease of patients with solid and blood tumors. ArcherDx will be responsible for obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals for each test kit and for commercializing them. 

Financial and other details of the agreement were not disclosed. 

ArcherDx CEO and Cofounder Jason Myers said in a statement that Illumina's large installed base and highly accurate sequencing systems "will accelerate our efforts to democratize access to high-quality genomic testing by developing distributable diagnostic assays that can be used to identify targeted therapy options, as well as monitor for the recurrence of disease across a wide variety of cancers."

Based in Boulder, Colorado, ArcherDx markets NGS-based assays for oncology developed with its proprietary anchored multiplex PCR technology for target enrichment.

The deal builds on previous agreements between the firms, including a collaboration to develop tests for Illumina's MiSeq Dx system announced in 2016. The firms also have a global comarketing and distribution agreement for ArcherDx's FusionPlex oncology research products.

Illumina has recently signed codevelopment deals with several firms to provide IVD test kits for the NextSeq 550Dx, including with Qiagen and Lexent. 

"Partnerships that bring exceptional clinical content to customers and patients represent an exciting opportunity in clinical genomics," Phil Febbo, Illumina's chief medical officer, said in a statement.