Dako, an Agilent Technologies company and a worldwide provider of cancer diagnostics, is collaborating with Merck 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’s investigational anti-PD-1 antibody being studied for cancer treatment.

"Early findings from Merck’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.

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