Singapore-based medical technology company Biolidics has signed a definitive agreement with Japan-based haematology products provider Sysmex for the joint development of laboratory-developed tests (LDT) to diagnose cancer.

Since 2016, the two firms have been collaborating in the research and development of laboratory assays in circulating tumour cells (CTCs). This collaboration has been leveraging Biolodics’ ClearCell FX1 System and Sysmex’s molecular imaging flow cytometer MI-FCM.

Under the agreement, Sysmex will share its MI-FCM technology platform with the technology capabilities of ClearCell FX1 System so that LDT can be developed with an established workflow process.

The process will be clinically validated by SAM Laboratory, an internationally accredited clinical laboratory owned by Clearbridge Health, the controlling shareholder of Biolidics.

Following the validation, Biolidics will commercialise and market this LDT cancer diagnostic test in Asia, outside of Japan. This test is expected to use only a small amount of blood sample.

Biolidics stated that the collaboration is a significant leap forward, as it has the potential of reducing invasive cancer diagnostic procedures and boosting clinical outcomes while optimising cost and efficiency.

The collaboration is also expected to allow both the firms to boost and expand their portfolio.

The Japan-based firm has verified several cancer type-particular biomarkers for CTC characterisation that could allow disease state prediction, as well as treatment selection through MI-FCM.

While MI-FCM is a downstream analytical technology within the cancer diagnostic value-chain in liquid biopsy, Biolidics’ ClearCell FX1 System is an upstream technology that segregates and enriches cancer cells from the blood. Therefore, the two technologies are considered to be complementary for prognosis, diagnosis and treatment.

Sysmex offers healthcare testing solutions and services to customers in more than 190 countries. It has a presence in the haematology, haemostasis and urinalysis fields.

Biolidics focuses on the development of cell enrichment system. Its ClearCell FX1 System is installed across Asia, Europe, and North America.