Leica Biosystems Opens New Center for Enabling Precision Medicine to Accelerate Companion Diagnostic Development
- Leica Biosystems’ new R&D facility will serve as a hub for collaborative research with leading pharmaceutical and academic institutions.
- The center aims to speed and streamline the development and commercialization of companion diagnostics.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, July 23, 2024 – Leica Biosystems, a global leader in anatomic pathology, opened the doors of its new research and development facility in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, to accelerate the development of Companion Diagnostics (CDx).
CDx tests enable patients to receive targeted therapies to treat their disease better. CDx tests help determine whether a patient will respond well to a specific drug therapy. For patients undergoing cancer treatment, this diagnostic process can make a significant difference in a patient’s prognosis.
Today, the development process of CDx from discovery to FDA approval can be lengthy, requiring many hand-offs as studies move from research-grade to clinical. Leica Biosystems and its parent company Danaher Corporation will drive efficiencies within this ecosystem and leverage its broad installed base to facilitate faster commercialization of personalized treatment for patients.
The new Center for Enabling Precision Medicine also has a strong focus on environmental consciousness: Ahead of the opening, it received certification from My Green Lab, an organization considered to be the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world.
The grand opening celebration drew the facility’s more than 300 employees, along with local dignitaries such as Mayor Norma Redfearn, DBE and representatives from the Bobby Robson Foundation.
"I am very excited about what this facility represents,” commented Gustavo Perez-Fernandez, President of Leica Biosystems, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It’s not just a new, beautiful place for us to work – it’s where we’re going to design and manufacture assays that will make a difference in the lives of millions of patients worldwide."
About Leica Biosystems
Leica Biosystems is a cancer diagnostics company and a global leader in workflow solutions. The company offers a comprehensive product range for each step in the pathology process, from sample preparation and staining to imaging and reporting. As the only company to own the full workflow from biopsy to diagnosis, Leica Biosystems is uniquely positioned to break down the barriers between each step. The company’s mission of “Advancing Cancer Diagnostics, Improving Lives” is at the heart of its corporate culture.
