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California-based Freenome, a cancer detection company, announced a strategic collaboration agreement with pharma giant Roche with the aim of commercializing Freenome's cancer screening technology internationally.
Freenome will assess Roche's forthcoming sequencing by expansion (SBX) technology for development applications down the road.
Roche is currently in the process of acquiring exclusive rights to develop "kitted" at-home medical tests.
The partnership aims to hasten the availability of Freenome's tests in some markets outside the U.S, according to the company.
Freenome will keep the rights to centralized testing outside the U.S. as well as U.S. rights, contingent on its pre-existing license to Exact Sciences, a cancer screening and diagnostic testing company.
The two companies will also work together using the SBX technology to increase Freenome's cell-free DNA (cfDNA) cancer screening tests.
In addition, Freenome will utilize Roche's plasma sample cohorts that aim to advance development of personalized screening tests for multiple types of cancer.
The company said that its multimodal approach combines computational biology, machine learning and multiple data types to "tune into cancer's subtlest cues, even at the earliest stages of the disease."
"We are delighted to deepen our research and development partnership with Roche to enhance our multiomic blood-based cancer screening platform and accelerate our test pipeline," Aaron Elliott, CEO of Freenome, said in a statement.
"Combining our technology with Roche's expertise in kit development and its footprint outside the United States will enable us to extend our reach globally and help more patients."
THE LARGER TREND
In August, Exact Sciences acquired exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to Freenome's colorectal cancer blood-screening test, including the U.S. commercial rights and the underlying technology.
In 2024, Freenome secured $254 million in financing led by Roche. The funds were used to advance the pipeline of single-cancer and tailored multi-cancer early detection tests built on the company's multiomics platform.
Other companies in the cancer screening space include Hologic, which was granted clearance from the FDA in 2024 to market its Genius Digital Diagnostics System powered by the company's Genius Cervical AI algorithm.
The digital cytology system, a medical diagnostic tool used to study cells under a microscope to spot abnormalities or diseases, integrates deep learning-based AI with advanced volumetric imaging technology to aid in detecting precancerous lesions and cervical cancer cells.
In 2023, Malaysia-based Duopharma Biotech increased access to a mobile breast cancer screening device at the community level.
The company signed a distribution deal with the Malaysian unit of U.S.-based femtech company UE LifeSciences to make the iBreastExam device available in primary care clinics across the country.
