Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) enters into an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to develop a universal next-generation sequencing (NGS) oncology test for solid tumors that will serve as a companion diagnostic for multiple drug programs.

The test will be based on Thermo's Ion Personal Genome Machine Dx Platform, Ion AmpliSeq technology and content from the on comine Cancer Research Panel. Its value proposition is the ability to analyze hundreds of genes simultaneously thereby enabling clinicians to more fully understand the  genetic profile of a tumor. Current genomic analysis technologies interrogate only one or a few genetic markers at a time.

Financial terms of the collaboration are undisclosed.