AstraZeneca and Dako on Monday announced that they wil

collaborate to develop diagnostic tests for multiple AstraZeneca

oncology projects in various phases of development.

Alan Barge, head of oncology development at AstraZeneca, noted

that the agreement, the terms of which were not disclosed, will help "develop new drugs linked to diagnostic

tests that predict which patients are most likely to respond to treatment." According to Ruth March, the

drugmaker's personalised healthcare leader, the deal is the "first in a series" of alliances AstraZeneca plans to

form as part of its goal to focus more of its R&D on personalised medicine.