Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has entered into a broad framework agreement with Dako on the development of pharmacodiagnostic tests.

The agreement, which builds on a collaboration begun in 2008, aims to develop diagnostics to identify patients more likely to benefit from treatment with BMS investigational drug candidates.

Pharmacodiagnostics (or companion diagnostics) are an important feature of the growing personalised medicine approach, which can improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by identifying individuals who are more likely to benefit from specific therapies.

Dako, a global leader in tissue-based diagnostics, has a history of developing clinical diagnostics in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies that are used in conjunction with drugs.

“It is a great pleasure for me to announce Dako’s new collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb,” said Lars Holmkvist, CEO of Dako. “This alliance heralds the intentions of both companies to work closely together to develop new diagnostic tests linked to drugs for the higher purpose of identifying the patients most likely to respond to treatment.”

“It is part of Dako’s long-term strategy to collaborate with pharma companies on the development of companion diagnostic tests.”

Based in Denmark, Dako produces reagents, instruments and software used by hospitals and clinics in more than 80 countries worldwide in the diagnosis of cancer and the planning of its treatment.

Global pharmaceutical contract sales revenues will reach $5.24bn in 2015, a new report predicts.

The World Pharma Contract Sales Organisation (CSO) Market 2011-2021 found that revenues will continue to grow over the next decade as pharma companies look to cut costs.

Richard Lang, pharmaceutical industry analyst, says pharmaceutical companies are turning to CSOs for “new approaches to sales, targeting doctors and healthcare payers”.

The report by Visiongain found that supplying sales teams was currently the largest source of revenue for outsourcing companies in 2010, accounting for 80% of the market.

Pharma companies based in the US, UK and Japan will continue reduce sales forces, the report predicts, in coming years, providing an opportunity for contract sales companies and sales teams.

An increased emphasis on speciality drugs will also require new procedures and expertise for CSO sales teams, the report says, with e-detailing, tele-detailing and medical science liaison having a greater prominence over the next ten years.

“Face-to-face detailing of healthcare professionals is still the most common pharmaceutical sales technique in many markets,” said Mr Lang. “However, with increasingly busy schedules, more and more doctors are implementing 'no-see' policies for sales reps.

“The drive to cut rising healthcare costs will increase the influence of payers in future prescribing decisions.”

The demand for contract sales services is also expected to continue to grow in emerging markets such as China and India, according to the report’s predictions, with companies seeking to enter or expand their sales field-force presence in these regions and rely increasingly on the local knowledge and expertise CSOs offer.