Illumina and Labcorp have announced an expanded collaboration aimed at advancing precision oncology through broader applications of next-generation sequencing (NGS) across the healthcare ecosystem.

The partnership will focus on improving access to cancer biomarker testing by introducing distributed testing solutions that bring diagnostics closer to patients. The companies will also work on generating clinical evidence to support payer coverage and developing new tests to address unmet needs in cancer care.

As part of the expanded collaboration, efforts will include the development of advanced oncology research tools and in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests, including comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). These solutions are expected to help bridge existing testing gaps and enable more personalised treatment approaches.

The companies are also exploring co-commercialisation of Labcorp’s FDA-authorised liquid biopsy test, PGDx elio plasma focus Dx, alongside Illumina’s FDA-approved TruSight Oncology Comprehensive test for solid tumour profiling. These distributed IVD kits aim to expand access to both tissue and liquid biopsy testing for hospitals and community health systems, supporting more accurate diagnoses and identifying patient eligibility for targeted therapies and clinical trials.

Additionally, the collaboration is expected to create opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to develop companion diagnostics (CDx), supporting targeted therapy approvals across both tissue and liquid biopsy platforms.

Illumina and Labcorp will continue joint research to demonstrate the clinical utility of CGP and promote its adoption. In a recent study published in Frontiers in Oncology, researchers analysed over 7,600 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) tumour samples. The findings showed that CGP identified actionable genomic variants linked to targeted therapies or clinical trials in more than 72 percent of cases.

Since 2022, the two companies have collaborated on eight oncology publications and presented 18 posters and studies at industry conferences, underscoring their ongoing commitment to advancing genomic-driven cancer care.

The expanded partnership highlights a shared focus on accelerating innovation, improving diagnostic accessibility, and enabling more timely and equitable cancer treatment outcomes.