Strategic collaboration between Leica Biosystems and CellCarta: Advancing Precision Diagnosis and Treatment, Co-promoting the Development of Companion Diagnostics

Leica Biosystems, a global leader in anatomic pathology, announced on March 20, 2025 a strategic collaboration with CellCarta, a globally recognized provider of CRO laboratory services for pharmaceutical research and development.

[Extract from March 20, 2025 Press Release]
This collaboration aims to combine Leica Biosystems’s anatomic pathology technologies and local manufacturing capabilities with CellCarta’s expertise in assay methodology and development, all under a stringent quality management system. Together, the partners will provide comprehensive, full-cycle biomarker development services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. This includes a wide range of services provided at various stages, including exploratory laboratory studies, biomarker assays for patient screening in early and late phase clinical trials, and the development of companion diagnostics. The combined strengths of Leica Biosystems and CellCarta will enable the seamless integration of these services, optimizing the clinical trial process and advancing precision medicine.

At the same time, Leica Biosystems (“Leica”) also announced the opening of Leica Biosystems (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. at Danaher China Diagnostic Platform R&D and Manufacturing Site in China (hereinafter referred to as the “Leica Suzhou Site”). As the local R&D and manufacturing site for Leica’s reagent products, Leica Suzhou Site will take over the entire process of reagent products from early R&D to market launch. […]

The collaboration will start in China and expand globally according to customers’ needs, providing high-standard biomarker testing solutions for China and the world in a faster cycle, and injecting new momentum into the vigorous development of precision diagnosis and treatment with the combined strength of both parties’ science and technology.

Accelerating Precision Diagnostics in China: Anchoring the Future of Companion Diagnostics

Under the strategic collaboration agreement, Leica and CellCarta will combine their expertise to offer biopharmaceutical companies a comprehensive suite of services, spanning from clinical trials to the development and commercialization of companion diagnostics. Additionally, CellCarta will support the advancement of Leica’s companion diagnostics business by providing early-stage development of new targets and validated clinical assays, further driving innovation and accelerating the delivery of tailored diagnostic solutions. […]

Deeply localized to build Leica China solutions

Companion diagnostics is a key part of Leica’s development strategy in China. The partnership with CellCarta makes Leica one of the multinational providers of localized companion diagnostics solutions in China, providing high-quality and efficient services for target screening in the local oncology drug development process, and accelerating the translation of in vitro diagnostic products through the R&D and manufacturing site in Suzhou, empowering the process of innovative drug discovery and development.

The “Leica Biosystems + CellCarta” partnership will be the third CEPM in the world, following the United States and the United Kingdom, and will be the first of its kind for the Danaher Center of Excellence in Precision Medicine (CEPM). It is also the result of Danaher’s strategy of “Launching China”.

At the signing ceremony, Ms. Guan Yunyun, General Manager of Leica Biosystems China, said, “Starting from 2025, Leica’s Suzhou Site will develop more Leica immunohistochemistry antibodies and collaborate with companion diagnostic pharmaceutical companies at the same time. The strategic collaboration with CellCarta will jointly promote the development and launch of companion diagnostic solutions and related new drugs, and we have every reason to believe that the development of precision medicine in China has pressed the ‘acceleration button’, which will benefit more cancer patients in the future. We look forward to our joint efforts to build a ‘China Solution’ to the global stage, contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of cancer patients across the world.”

Christopher Ung, Chief Scientific Business Officer of CellCarta, emphasized, “This collaboration goes beyond simply combining resources; it represents a transformative model of cooperation designed to advance precision diagnostics and treatment. CellCarta is committed to China’s rapidly growing precision medicine field, providing worldclass CRO laboratory services to our local customers in China, and together with Leica Biosystems, enabling a path from China to the global markets.”

About CellCarta

CellCarta is a leading global contract research organization (CRO) serving the biopharmaceutical industry. With CAP and CLIA accreditations for advanced assays and fully integrated quality management systems across Canada, the United States, Belgium, Australia and China, the company delivers comprehensive biomarker testing services and tailored solutions to the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. CellCarta’s integrated platforms in immunology, histopathology, proteomics and genomics platforms, together with its sample management and logistics systems, enable the company to provide clients comprehensive, full-cycle support throughout the drug discovery process, from early-stage research to late-stage clinical trials.

About Leica Biosystems

Leica Biosystems is a cancer diagnostics company and a global leader in workflow solutions. The company offers a comprehensive product range for each step in the pathology process, from sample preparation and staining to imaging and reporting. As the only company to own the full workflow from biopsy to diagnosis, Leica Biosystems is uniquely positioned to break down the barriers between each step. The company’s mission of “Advancing Cancer Diagnostics, Improving Lives” is at the heart of its corporate culture.