Dako, an Agilent Technologies company and a worldwide provider of cancer diagnostics , today announced a collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. ( known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, through an affiliate) to develop a companion diagnostic test for the analysis of the potential tumor biomarker PD-L1 to aid in the treatment of cancer.

The companion diagnostic test coming out of this collaboration will be evaluated as part of the clinical development program for Merck & Co.’s investigational anti-PD-1 antibody being studied for the treatment of cancer.

“Early findings from Merck & Co.’s broad clinical development program have provided evidence for the potential of PD-L1 tumor expression to aid study enrichment and patient selection in some tumor types,” said Dr. Eric Rubin, vice president, Oncology, Merck Research Laboratories. “We are pleased to be collaborating with Dako in advancing this companion diagnostic development program.”

Today’s announcement underscores Dako and Agilent’s continued commitment to advancing companion diagnostics through strong partnerships with key players in the pharmaceutical industry. Dako, now part of Agilent, has a record of successful long-term partnerships with companies such as AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Amgen, Pfizer and Eli Lilly and continues to attract new partners, like Merck & Co., Inc.

“We are very pleased to be collaborating with Merck & Co.,” said Jacob Thaysen, vice president and general manager for Agilent’s Diagnostics and Genomics business. “Partnering with other companies that share our commitment to fighting cancer allows us to aid in the selection of patients most likely to respond to specific cancer therapies.”

The financial terms of the development and commercialization agreement were not disclosed.