Press release Biocartis Group NV

Biocartis and SkylineDx Sign Collaboration to Develop the Merlin Assay, a Test Predicting Risk for Nodal Metastasis in Melanoma, on Idylla - Seite 2

Herman Verrelst, Chief Executive Officer of Biocartis, commented: “We are excited about teaming up with SkylineDx to improve melanoma patient outcome and help clinicians, also in smaller, non-specialized lab settings, to rapidly and easily guide the true need for surgical removal of lymph nodes in melanoma patients. This Idylla Merlin Assay also connects well with our current oncology offering, where the Idylla BRAF Mutation Test (CE-IVD)⁹ can subsequently help to guide a patient’s treatment decisions in cases of metastatic melanoma.”

Dharminder Chahal, Chief Executive Officer of SkylineDx, added: “Through this collaboration with Biocartis, we enable a broader availability of our test portfolio in melanoma. SkylineDx focuses on precision diagnostics for all cancer patients and with the addition of this new version of our Merlin Assay, more laboratories and care settings will be able to have access to this assay. Our teams are fully up to speed and we really look forward to start the development process together”.

As part of the agreement and based on SkylineDx' highly valuable portfolio of novel molecular tests in varying stages of development and expected attractive value-based pricing, Biocartis will invest up to EUR 10m in secured convertible notes to be issued by SkylineDx in different project-based instalments throughout the collaboration. The initiation of the development of the Merlin Assay on Idylla is expected to start in 2021.

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More information:
Biocartis
Renate Degrave, Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Biocartis
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SkylineDx
Marieke Spaan, Manager Corporate Affairs SkylineDx
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About Biocartis

Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) is an innovative molecular diagnostics (MDx) company providing next generation diagnostic solutions aimed at improving clinical practice for the benefit of patients, clinicians, payers and industry. Biocartis' proprietary MDx Idylla platform is a fully automated sample-to-result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) system that offers accurate, highly reliable molecular information from virtually any biological sample in virtually any setting. Biocartis is developing and marketing a continuously expanding test menu addressing key unmet clinical needs, with a focus in oncology, which represents the fastest growing segment of the MDx market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers tests supporting melanoma, colorectal and lung cancer, as well as for SARS-CoV-2 and sepsis. More information: www.biocartis.com. Follow us on Twitter: @Biocartis_.