Flagship Biosciences announces agreement in tissue based companion diagnostics development
Flagship Biosciences’ custom image analysis development leverages Leica Biosystems’ strong installed base in digital pathology
Boulder, CO – April 30, 2014 – Flagship Biosciences announces it has reached agreement with Leica Biosystems to allow its custom algorithms to be utilized in companion diagnostics development on the Aperio ePathology platform. The agreement allows Flagship’s quantitative analysis programs developed with pharmaceutical customers to be delivered on an existing system with a large and growing installed base. Many of these programs take several years to develop, and may coincide with a co-developed therapeutic.
“We are excited to be able to work with Leica Biosystems, the digital pathology company with the largest footprint in both the pharmaceutical industry and clinical sites,” said Dr. Steven Potts, Chief Executive Officer for Flagship Biosciences. “It is critical for our pharmaceutical customers’ quantitative algorithms to have access to a platform with the largest installed base in the market. Knowing that the quantitative pathology approaches can be delivered on the Leica systems helps to mitigate risk and difficulties in transitioning a companion diagnostic to clinical usage.”
“With the Aperio ePathology technology and the Leica BOND automated IHC/ISH staining instruments, Leica is strongly positioned as an optimal partner for companion diagnostics development”, said Michael Cusack, Senior VP and General Manager, North America at Leica Biosystems. “Flagship Biosciences’ ability to leverage Leica’s histology and scanning technology in their CLIA laboratory for companion diagnostics is exciting. This partnership further demonstrates the value of Leica’s ePathology open platform for image analysis content.”
About Flagship Biosciences
Flagship Biosciences delivers quantitative histopathology services in pharma and device development, and specializes in the development of tissue-based companion diagnostics. Flagship has a world-class team of pathologists, regulatory experts, biology and image analysis scientists, who partners with pharmaceutical companies to develop immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization quantitative tissue assays for research and CLIA usage. Flagship provides quantitative histopathology to over 100 biotech, pharma and medical device clients, and has ongoing projects with thirteen of the largest fifteen global pharmaceutical companies. Further information on tissue-based companion diagnostics can be found at FlagshipBio.com.
About Leica Biosystems
Leica Biosystems is a global leader in workflow solutions and automation, striving to advance cancer diagnostics to improve patients’ lives. Leica Biosystems provides anatomic pathology laboratories and researchers a comprehensive product range for each step in the pathology process, from sample preparation and staining to imaging and reporting. Leica’s easy-to-use and consistently reliable offerings help improve workflow efficiency and diagnostic confidence. The company is represented in over 100 countries. It has manufacturing facilities in 7 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries, and an international network of dealers. The company is headquartered in Nussloch, Germany. Further information can be found at www.LeicaBiosystems.com.
