Clarient Diagnostic Services, Inc., a GE Healthcare company, and Insight Genetics, Inc., have entered a worldwide licensing agreement granting Clarient rights to develop a genetic test covering the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) biomarker, a target for several classes of cancer drugs.

Clarient plans to develop and evaluate the performance characteristics of a quantitative PCR-based test that detects increased transcription of the ALK gene. Rearrangements involving the ALK gene are implicated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancers.

“The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines now suggest ALK testing as a standard measure for all non-small cell lung cancer patients due to the development of therapies targeting ALK inhibition,” said Kenneth J. Bloom, MD, chief medical officer of Clarient. “Our agreement with Insight Genetics is another example of our mission of translating biomarker discovery to aid the development of new therapeutics and to assist physicians in determining the eligibility of their patients to receive the most appropriate therapy.”

“Insight and Clarient share a dedication to enhancing personalized cancer care,” said Eric Dahlhauser, chairman and chief executive officer of Insight Genetics. “We’re pleased to work with Clarient, a leader in cancer diagnostics with a strong commitment to developing tests that address targeted therapies, toward advancing this common goal.”