Illumina and Labcorp expand collaboration to advance next-generation sequencing in cancer care
Expanded partnership aims to advance precision oncology through distributed NGS‑based tissue and liquid biopsy testing
30 Apr 2026Industry news
Illumina and Labcorp have announced an expanded collaboration to develop and deploy next-generation sequencing (NGS) solutions across the healthcare ecosystem in the United States and beyond. The partnership will focus on distributed cancer biomarker testing, generating clinical and economic evidence to support payer coverage, and creating new in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests to address unmet needs in precision oncology and improve access to advanced genomic profiling for patients.
Deepening a longstanding precision oncology partnership
Illumina and Labcorp are building on a longstanding collaboration grounded in a shared vision to advance precision oncology through cutting-edge genomic technologies and clinical research. By combining Illumina’s leadership in NGS and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) with Labcorp’s expertise in oncology diagnostics and clinical laboratory services, the companies aim to expand access to critical biomarker testing for patients with cancer across diverse care settings.
New test development in CGP and whole-genome sequencing
Under the expanded collaboration, Illumina and Labcorp plan to develop new tests spanning advanced oncology research and IVD applications. These efforts will include CGP assays and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) solutions designed to identify actionable genomic alterations and address gaps in current cancer testing pathways.
The new NGS-based solutions are intended to:
- Address areas of unmet need in precision oncology
- Help bridge existing testing gaps for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies
- Support more personalized treatment decisions and clinical trial matching
Co-commercialization of tissue and liquid biopsy IVD test kits
As part of the agreement, Illumina and Labcorp will explore co-commercializing Labcorp’s FDA-authorized liquid biopsy assay PGDx elio plasma focus Dx alongside Illumina’s FDA-approved TruSight Oncology Comprehensive test for solid tumor profiling.
Together, these distributed IVD test kits are intended to:
- Expand access to both tissue-based and liquid biopsy biomarker testing
- Enable hospitals and community health systems to offer advanced genomic profiling closer to patients
- Support more specific cancer diagnoses and identification of eligibility for targeted therapies and clinical trials
This distributed offering is also designed to provide pharmaceutical companies with differentiated opportunities for companion diagnostic (CDx) development, supporting both tissue and liquid biopsy needs for targeted therapy approvals.
Generating evidence for CGP adoption and payer coverage
Illumina and Labcorp will continue joint efforts to demonstrate the clinical utility of CGP and promote its adoption across oncology care pathways. A collaborative study published in Frontiers of Oncology1 evaluated more than 7,600 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor samples using Illumina CGP.
The study demonstrated the coverage and utility of Illumina’s CGP in detecting both known and novel genomic features of NSCLC. Results showed that CGP identified variants associated with an existing targeted therapy or a relevant clinical trial in more than 72% of patient tumors, highlighting the potential of CGP to inform treatment selection and clinical trial enrollment.
This publication is one of eight joint oncology publications from Illumina and Labcorp since 2022, complemented by 18 posters and presentations at industry conferences. These data-driven initiatives are intended to support broader payer coverage and clinical adoption of CGP in routine cancer care.
Accelerating access to advanced genomic testing
By aligning on test development, evidence generation, and distributed IVD offerings, Illumina and Labcorp aim to accelerate the integration of advanced genomic testing into standard oncology practice.
References
1. Wallen ZD, Nesline MK, Tierno M, Roos A, et al. Genomic profiling of NSCLC tumors with the TruSight oncology 500 assay provides broad coverage of clinically actionable genomic alterations and detection of known and novel associations between genomic alterations, TMB, and PD-L1. Front. Oncol., 27 November 2024, Sec. Thoracic Oncology. Volume 14 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1473327
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Frequently asked questions
How are Illumina and Labcorp expanding access to next-generation sequencing (NGS) and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) for cancer patients?
Illumina and Labcorp are expanding their longstanding precision oncology collaboration to develop and deploy next-generation sequencing (NGS) solutions and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) across the healthcare ecosystem in the United States and beyond.
By combining Illumina’s leadership in NGS and CGP with Labcorp’s oncology diagnostics and clinical laboratory services, the partnership aims to broaden access to critical biomarker testing in diverse care settings.
The collaboration focuses on distributed cancer biomarker testing, development of new CGP and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) assays, and co-commercialization of tissue-based and liquid biopsy in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test kits so that hospitals and community health systems can offer advanced genomic profiling closer to patients.
What new in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test solutions are Illumina and Labcorp co-commercializing for precision oncology and how do they support targeted therapy and clinical trial access?
As part of the expanded agreement, Illumina and Labcorp plan to co-commercialize Labcorp’s FDA-authorized liquid biopsy assay PGDx elio plasma focus Dx together with Illumina’s FDA-approved TruSight Oncology Comprehensive test for solid tumor profiling. These distributed IVD test kits are designed to expand access to both tissue-based and liquid biopsy biomarker testing, enabling more specific cancer diagnoses and identification of eligibility for targeted therapies and clinical trials.
The combined offering also provides pharmaceutical companies with differentiated opportunities for companion diagnostic (CDx) development across tissue and liquid biopsy, supporting targeted therapy approvals and broader integration of precision oncology into routine cancer care.
How is the Illumina–Labcorp collaboration generating clinical evidence to support comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) adoption and payer coverage in oncology?
Illumina and Labcorp are jointly generating clinical and economic evidence to support broader payer coverage and adoption of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in oncology care pathways.
A collaborative study published in Frontiers of Oncology evaluated more than 7,600 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor samples using Illumina CGP and demonstrated its coverage and utility in detecting both known and novel genomic features of NSCLC.
The study showed that CGP identified variants linked to an existing targeted therapy or a relevant clinical trial in more than 72% of patient tumors, underscoring its potential to guide treatment selection and clinical trial enrollment. This work is part of a broader evidence base that includes eight joint oncology publications and 18 posters and presentations since 2022, all intended to drive CGP adoption and support payer coverage for advanced genomic testing.