Epigenomics Gets What Companies Rarely Do: A Huge Deal

Roche Diagnostics and Epigenomics AG, a start-up diagnostics company, have signed a three-year collaboration to find new cancer diagnostic markers, a deal that could bring Epigenomics as much as $100 million--if all of the markers covered get to market. Epigenomics is working on DNA methylation based biomarkers for cancer and will identify the markers; Roche will develop them into tests and market them worldwide.

The new three-year collaboration between Roche Diagnostics (a division of Roche ) and start-up company Epigenomics AG [See Deal] is striking both because of its value—as an alliance one of the highest-valued deals signed in recent years--and because of the faith it places in DNA methylation technology, which has long been under investigation and is now in the spotlight. (See "Epigenomics GMBH," START-UP, February 2000 Also see "Epigenomics GMBH" - Medtech Insight, 1 February, 2000..)

For many small diagnostics companies, the deal is an enviable model of the kind they would like to achieve with...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on In Vivo for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Business Strategy

AI In Biologics Discovery: The Expensive Bet On Unproven Promise

 
• By 

Despite limited evidence of commercial impact, pharmaceutical companies are making massive strategic investments in AI biologics platforms. The question isn't whether the technology shows promise; it's whether that promise can translate to measurable business results.

Turning Defense Into Attack: Snapshots Of A Changing Medtech Market And How To Respond

 
• By 

Against a backdrop of shifting trade policies, the end of multilateral market approaches and renewed focus on supply chain resilience, medtechs are doubling down on innovation in products and processes – using AI – and keeping unmet needs and outcomes in the center of the target.

AI Agents Set To Reshape Biopharma’s Workforce And Operations

 
• By 

While biopharma companies experiment with genAI, agentic AI is rapidly shifting the work paradigm towards one of autonomous digital workers that can handle entire process flows.

Mapping Biopharma’s AI Strategy: From Custom Datasets to Foundation Models

 
• By 

Biotech companies are pursuing diverse AI strategies beyond expensive custom data generation: foundation model fine-tuning, data-efficient computational methods and targeted proprietary datasets. In Vivo takes a look at some examples.

More from In Vivo

AI In Biologics Discovery: The Expensive Bet On Unproven Promise

 
• By 

Despite limited evidence of commercial impact, pharmaceutical companies are making massive strategic investments in AI biologics platforms. The question isn't whether the technology shows promise; it's whether that promise can translate to measurable business results.

Kris Joshi Named Norstella CEO, Prioritizes AI Innovation

 
• By 

Joshi joins the parent company of Citeline, which houses flagship publications In Vivo, Scrip and Pink Sheet, to focus on AI, business harmonization and long-term growth.

Deals Shaping The Industry, June 2025

 
• By 

An interactive look at pharma, medtech and diagnostics deals made during June 2025. Data courtesy of Biomedtracker.