Illumina, Inc. and Labcorp have announced an expanded collaboration to strengthen access to precision oncology testing and advance innovative next‑generation sequencing (NGS) solutions across clinical care and research settings. The partnership is designed to address persistent testing gaps while bringing advanced biomarker profiling closer to patients and providers.
Under the agreement, the two industry leaders will develop and promote distributed diagnostic offerings, generate evidence supporting payer coverage, and launch new tests addressing unmet needs in precision oncology. These coordinated efforts aim to improve both tissue‑based and liquid‑biopsy approaches, while fostering equitable access to genomic profiling that drives personalized treatment strategies.
“By deepening our collaboration, we’ll continue to leverage the strengths of our teams to innovate and improve access to critical biomarker testing for patients with cancer,” said Traci Pawlowski, vice president of clinical product development at Illumina, emphasizing the partnership’s focus on clinical and scientific impact.
The joint initiative will explore co‑commercializing Labcorp’s FDA‑authorized PGDx elio® plasma focus™ Dx liquid biopsy assay alongside Illumina’s TruSight™ Oncology Comprehensive test for solid tumor profiling. These distributed IVD test kits are intended to help hospitals and community health systems deliver advanced precision oncology testing that can better inform diagnoses, guide targeted treatment plans, and identify patients eligible for clinical trials.
This expanded collaboration builds on a longstanding relationship between the companies, which have jointly published research and shared findings with the scientific community. Together, they have contributed eight joint publications and 18 conference presentations since 2022, demonstrating broad utility and clinical relevance for comprehensive genomic profiling in oncology.
A recent joint study published in Frontiers of Oncology evaluated more than 7,600 non‑small cell lung cancer tumor samples. Researchers showed that comprehensive genomic profiling detected variants associated with targeted therapies or clinical trials in more than 72% of cases, underscoring the significant value of in‑depth precision oncology testing.
The Clinical Oncology Next‑Generation Sequencing (NGS) market is primarily driven by rising cancer prevalence, increasing adoption of liquid biopsy technologies, and greater awareness among healthcare providers. In the United States, cancer cases continue to escalate, with 1,851,238 new diagnoses reported in 2022, the most recent year of available incidence data. Moreover, 613,349 Americans succumbed to cancer in 2023, highlighting the substantial disease burden. These alarming statistics underscore the growing demand for advanced diagnostic solutions, such as Clinical Oncology NGS, which enable more precise detection, monitoring, and personalized treatment strategies.
Shakti Ramkissoon, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, vice president and medical lead for oncology at Labcorp, stated that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to “improving cancer care through innovation and access.” He noted that collective medical and scientific expertise will help deliver transformative testing solutions that support more timely and equitable cancer care for diverse patient populations.
The collaboration’s emphasis on expanding access to genomic testing aligns with broader industry recognition that comprehensive biomarker profiling is critical for personalized cancer care. Studies have shown that next‑generation sequencing–based comprehensive genomic profiling delivers more complete tumor characterization than single‑gene tests, which often fail to detect all actionable biomarkers recommended by clinical guidelines.
In community oncology practices and academic centers alike, genomic testing has become vital for matching patients with appropriate targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and clinical trial opportunities. Real‑world evidence suggests that broad profiling identifies clinically actionable genetic alterations in a majority of patients, leading to treatment decisions that can improve outcomes compared with conventional chemotherapy.
By jointly advancing both tissue and liquid biopsy testing capabilities, Illumina and Labcorp are positioning the partnership to support improved decision‑making across the cancer care continuum. Liquid biopsy assays, which analyze tumor DNA shed into the bloodstream, offer a less invasive alternative to traditional tissue testing while providing important insights into tumor dynamics.
Beyond clinical utility, the collaboration seeks to generate robust data that could facilitate broader payer coverage of advanced testing. Historically, payer reimbursement has posed a barrier to widespread adoption of precision oncology methods, particularly comprehensive genomic tests that profile hundreds of genes. By building evidence and demonstrating clinical utility, the partners aim to remove financial hurdles that limit patient access.
The co‑development and co‑commercialization efforts also have implications for the pharmaceutical industry. Distributed test offerings can support companion diagnostic development and enable pharmaceutical companies to identify patient subgroups most likely to benefit from targeted therapies. Such collaborations, in turn, can accelerate drug approval processes and enhance personalized treatment strategies.
Illumina’s technologies have long been integral to genomic research and clinical diagnostics, helping to fuel innovations from research labs to applied healthcare settings. Meanwhile, Labcorp’s expansive laboratory network and expertise in diagnostic services position it to scale testing access in both community and specialized care environments.
As precision oncology testing becomes increasingly central to oncology care, collaborations that expand access and build clinical evidence are essential to ensuring that patients benefit from advances in genomic science. Through enhanced genomic profiling and distributed diagnostic options, Illumina and Labcorp aim to help clinicians deliver more personalized and effective cancer care, while advancing the broader objective of equitable access to innovative diagnostic technologies.
