Horizon Discovery.

Horizon Diagnostics – a division of Waterbeach personalised medicine company Horizon Discovery – has announced a new partnership in a bid to improve the accuracy of lung cancer diagnostic testing.

It has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS) – a leader in diagnostic proficiency assessment.

The partnership will focus on the development of genetically defined reference standards for novel lung cancer biomarkers.

“Newly discovered mutations are rapidly shaping how and when novel cancer therapies are prescribed, and quality assurance for diagnostics is a key factor in the prescription of these therapies,” said Horizon Discovery commercial director Dr Paul Morrill.

“Through this partnership with UK NEQAS, we look forward to seeing our genetically defined reference standards adopted in proficiency schemes and as batch controls, ultimately helping to improve the accuracy of diagnostic testing for patients.”

UK NEQAS director Keith Miller said: “Horizon’s application of its gene editing technology in development of reference standards is ideally suited to diagnostics proficiency testing.

“We look forward to working with them as the field of cancer therapeutics moves increasingly toward a more personalised approach.”