Siemens Healthineers is in a collaboration agreement that will see it develop assays across Novartis’s therapeutic pipeline. The initial focus will be centered around the development of serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) immunoassay for patients with Multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.

NfL is a highly specific biomarker for nerve cell injury measured in cerebral spinal fluid and blood. Blood NfL levels have been reported to change in a variety of serious neurological conditions, including MS, and have been related to disease activity and disability outcomes.

This collaboration will use Erlangen, Germany-based Siemens Healthineers’ expertise in the development of solutions that can run on its ADVIA Centaur and Atellica immunoassay platforms designed for use in hospitals, reference laboratories, and specialty laboratories.

“We are looking forward to our collaboration with Novartis as it promises to yield innovative diagnostic solutions to address critical unmet clinical needs,” Deepak Nath, PhD President, Laboratory Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, said in a release. “Our initial focus on blood-based diagnostic solutions for MS patients is another example of Siemens Healthineers commitment to shape the future of precision medicine.”

Siemens Healthineers has been keeping itself busy during the pandemic. In addition to developing a new diagnostic for the virus that causes COVID-19 and winning emergency use authorization for a gaming changing antibody test, the company announced one of the largest deals of the year.

In early August, the company said it would acquire Varian Medical Systems for $16.4 billion in a deal set to close in the first half of 2021. The deal would give Siemens Healthineers a broader reach into cancer care.