Saladax Biomedical, Inc., a privately held company developing and commercializing novel diagnostic assays, has expanded its existing relationship with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) by entering into a Master Early Development Collaboration Agreement, which may include multiple feasibility studies and companion diagnostic development projects.

With the signing of this agreement, the companies have already initiated a new companion diagnostic project in an undisclosed field. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Saladax is delighted to continue working with Bristol-Myers Squibb to deliver on the promise of personalized medicine," said Kevin M Harter, president and CEO of Saladax. "Building on our previous work together, which resulted in clinically valuable Alzheimer’s disease assays, we’re eager to continue marrying the scientific and clinical knowledge of Bristol-Myers Squibb and Saladax to improve the lives of patients in other clinical areas.”

Saladax and Bristol-Myers Squibb originally entered into a collaboration in 2010 for the development of clinical diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease to be used in conjunction with the development of certain therapeutic compounds in the Bristol-Myers Squibb pipeline. In 2011, that partnership was expanded to include a commercial partner, Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Clinical Division.