Sequenta has announced it has entered into an agreement with Illumina to commercialise an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit that will enable clinical laboratories to utilise Sequenta's next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based minimal residual disease (MRD) detection and quantification technology.

"It is exciting to see how Illumina is enabling new diagnostic tests that may improve patient care. This partnership is consistent with our strategy to support third party IVD products on our sequencing platform," said Mr Nicholas J Naclerio, senior vice president, corporate and venture development, and general manager, enterprise informatics, Illumina.

The company also announced that Illumina participated in Sequenta's recent Series D funding round.

"Partnering with Illumina to develop an IVD kit will ultimately enable more doctors to use the prognostic power of Sequenta's MRD detection and quantification technology in caring for their patients," said Mr Tom Willis, CEO, Sequenta. He added, "The availability of an IVD kit that has gone through FDA review will solidify Sequenta's position as the diagnostic partner of choice for pharmaceutical and lifescience companies incorporating MRD measurement into clinical trials of blood cancer medicines."