The CDx Model Needs to Change: What China Taught Us About Breaking Silos, Moving Faster, and Going Global

November 12, 2026

The landscape for developing a companion diagnostic (CDx) has evolved drastically, yet the CDx operating model has barely changed. Each handoff between partners can introduce risk, raise costs, and waste time, raising a key question: how can the model improve to reduce unnecessary handoffs while streamlining development and commercialization? 

In this presentation, Christopher Ung, our Chief Scientific and Business Officer, shares what China revealed about the limits of the traditional model, discusses how the CellCarta-Leica Biosystems integrated pathway accelerated CDx development, and how these lessons can be applied globally.

Key topics discussed: 

• The shifting CDx landscape and the traditional CDx operating model 
• How the China market puts the traditional CDx model under stress 
• An integrated CellCarta and Leica Biosystems pathway designed to reduce handoffs and shorten development timelines
• Starting in China and applying these principles globally
• Applying the lessons to reduce the complexity of digital pathology and AI algorithm deployment

About the speaker: Christopher Ung 

Christopher Ung is CellCarta’s Chief Scientific Business Officer and has served in the companion diagnostics field since its inception. He is one of the original pioneers of the personalized medicine field. Mr. Ung currently leads the development and execution of CellCarta’s strategic and business initiatives, leveraging the company’s solid tumor and digital services.