Agilent forms diagnostic partnership with Pfizer

Agilent forges diagnostic test partnership with Pfizer; follows January deal with Eli Lilly

NEW YORK (AP) -- Agilent Technologies Inc. said Tuesday that it will work with Pfizer Inc., the biggest drug company in the world, to develop diagnostic tests.

Agilent said its Dako division will help develop so-called companion diagnostic tests, which are designed to help physicians decide how to treat patients by showing which treatments they might respond to.

The companies did not disclose terms of the deal.

Dako is based in Denmark and it focuses on cancer diagnostics. In January the company said it would work with Eli Lilly & Co. to develop a test that can identify cancer patients who might benefit from an experimental cancer drug Lilly is developing.

Agilent, based in Santa Clara, Calif., also said Tuesday that it had formed a partnership with Salt Lake City's Sera Prognostics, which is developing tests designed to predict pregnancy complications.

Shares of Agilent rose 10 cents to $44.70 while Pfizer shares slipped 3 cents to $27.11 in afternoon trading.