On June 5, 2025 Tracer Biotechnologies, a leader in blood-based molecular diagnostics for cancer, reported a strategic partnership with QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) to co-develop and commercialize minimal residual disease (MRD) assays for solid tumors on QIAGEN’s QIAcuity digital PCR platform (Press release, Qiagen, JUN 5, 2025, View Source [SID1234653749]).
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This collaboration aims to deliver highly sensitive, cost-effective, and decentralized MRD testing solutions that enable oncologists to monitor cancer recurrence and guide personalized treatment decisions using minimally invasive blood samples.
"Partnering with QIAGEN enables Tracer to bring our solid tumor MRD expertise to a broader market using a robust digital PCR platform in QIAcuity," said Mark Kaganovich, CEO of Tracer Biotechnologies. "With QIAcuity’s sensitivity and scalability, we can deliver high-quality companion diagnostics that integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows and offer new options to oncologists and patients."
Tracer offers two complementary MRD solutions:
Tracer dPCR, a tumor-informed, multiplexed digital PCR assay that allows institutions to run bespoke MRD tests internally using their own digital PCR instruments;
Tracer WGS, an AI-powered whole-genome ctDNA platform that enables ultra-sensitive tumor-agnostic detection and tracking with no need for prior tissue.
"This new partnership represents an important step in further establishing QIAGEN’s major role in oncology. We are bringing innovative MRD technologies into drug development through our companion diagnostic partnerships," said Jonathan Arnold, Vice President, Head of Partnering for Precision Diagnostics at QIAGEN. "In particular, we want to strengthen our scalable, cost-effective solutions based on our QIAcuity digital PCR system and enable our pharmaceutical partners to use MRD insights for guiding personalized treatment decisions for cancer patients."
Tracer’s mission is to turn every digital PCR machine and next-generation sequencer into a sensitive MRD assay—empowering institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and clinicians with the tools to decentralize testing, accelerate treatment decisions, and personalize cancer care.