Emboldened by 2017’s back-to-back FDA approvals of the first drugs that use genetically engineered patient immune cells – Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel) to treat leukemia and Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) to combat large-B-cell lymphomas – immunotherapy researchers are continuing to revolutionizing cancer treatment. But uneven patient response rates and the side effects often associated with immunotherapies are putting high priority on accurately identifying which patients would benefit most from particular treatment options.

Five Prime Therapeutics announced a collaboration with Roche to develop immunohistochemistry companion diagnostic assays for use with the clinical-stage biotechnology company’s first-in-class investigational drug candidates: the anti-FGFR2b antibody bemarituzumab (also known as FPA144) and the a B7-H4 antibody FPA150.