Leica Biosystems expands collaboration to advance AI-powered diagnostics in cancer
Expanded partnership with AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo focuses on developing AI-assisted IHC assays for lung cancer biomarker analysis
10 Jun 2026Industry news
Leica Biosystems is expanding its strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. The partners will develop an end-to-end system for the TROP2 Normalized Membrane Ratio (NMR) biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay and image analysis algorithm, for research use only.
The goal is to advance precision medicine by enabling AI-powered diagnostics and supporting the identification of patients most likely to benefit from targeted therapies.
Building on a strategic collaboration in computational pathology
The expanded collaboration builds on the partnership first announced in May 2025. It is based on AstraZeneca’s proprietary computational pathology algorithm, Quantitative Continuous Scoring (QCS), combined with Leica Biosystems’ digital pathology solutions and IHC assay development capabilities.
The joint effort is focused on assessing the TROP2 NMR biomarker in NSCLC, incorporating both membrane and cytoplasmic expression. This integrated approach supports the development of digital and computational pathology tools, including AI-assisted algorithms, that have the potential to enhance biomarker research and inform future diagnostic strategies.
Computational pathology algorithms have the potential to provide diagnostic precision beyond traditional manual scoring methods. As pathology undergoes rapid transformation, laboratories and healthcare systems are increasingly adopting digital workflows enabled by whole-slide imaging (WSI), digital slide visualization platforms, and advanced AI algorithms.
Leveraging Leica Biosystems platforms for global deployment
The collaboration will leverage multiple Leica Biosystems platforms to support rapid development and global deployment of computational image analysis algorithms. These include the BOND RX research stainer, the BOND-III clinical stainer, the Aperio GT 450 scanner, and the Aperio HALO AP image management system.
The TROP2 NMR algorithm will be delivered through the Aperio AI Store, the open marketplace for AI and image analysis solutions from Leica Biosystems. This will enable users to evaluate and deploy tools within a unified digital and computational pathology platform.
Supporting an end-to-end pathway for diagnostic development
Leica Biosystems’ initiatives in this collaboration reflect its commitment to advancing computational pathology innovation and establishing an integrated, end-to-end pathway for diagnostic development. This spans early assay feasibility through to global deployment of digital and AI-powered solutions in research settings.
By combining the strengths of Leica Biosystems, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo, the collaboration aims to support the evolution of precision medicine in oncology and to enable more refined approaches to biomarker-driven research in non-small cell lung cancer.
“Advancing cancer diagnostics requires more than individual innovations; it demands collaboration across science, technology, and workflow,” said Gustavo Perez-Fernandez, Group Executive, Diagnostics, at Danaher and President of Leica Biosystems.
“By working alongside AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, we are bringing together complementary expertise to help address some of the most complex challenges in biomarker research, with the aim of enabling more precise and scalable approaches that support the future of precision medicine.”
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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Frequently asked questions
How are Leica Biosystems, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo collaborating to advance AI-powered diagnostics in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)?
Leica Biosystems, AstraZeneca, and Daiichi Sankyo are expanding their strategic collaboration to develop an end-to-end system for the TROP2 Normalized Membrane Ratio (NMR) biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The collaboration combines AstraZeneca’s proprietary Quantitative Continuous Scoring (QCS) computational pathology algorithm with Leica Biosystems’ digital pathology platforms and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay development capabilities.
The partners aim to create a research-use-only IHC assay and image analysis algorithm that enable AI-powered diagnostics, support biomarker research, and help identify NSCLC patients most likely to benefit from targeted therapies.
What role does the TROP2 NMR biomarker and computational pathology play in Leica Biosystems’ precision medicine strategy?
The TROP2 NMR biomarker is central to the collaboration’s focus on advancing precision medicine in oncology, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer. The joint effort assesses TROP2 NMR by incorporating both membrane and cytoplasmic expression, enabling more detailed biomarker characterization.
AstraZeneca’s Quantitative Continuous Scoring (QCS) algorithm and Leica Biosystems’ digital pathology solutions support the development of computational pathology tools, including AI-assisted algorithms. These tools are intended to provide diagnostic precision beyond traditional manual scoring methods, inform future diagnostic strategies, and enable more refined, biomarker-driven research approaches in NSCLC for research use only.
Which Leica Biosystems platforms support the global deployment of the TROP2 NMR algorithm and digital pathology workflows?
The collaboration leverages multiple Leica Biosystems platforms to enable rapid development and global deployment of computational image analysis algorithms related to the TROP2 NMR biomarker. Key platforms include the BOND RX research stainer, the BOND-III clinical stainer, the Aperio GT 450 scanner, and the Aperio HALO AP image management system.
The TROP2 NMR algorithm will be delivered through the Aperio AI Store, Leica Biosystems’ open marketplace for AI and image analysis solutions. Together, these platforms provide an integrated digital and computational pathology ecosystem that supports end-to-end workflow adoption, from early assay feasibility to deployment of AI-powered solutions in research settings.