Bladder cancer diagnostic test maker Pacific Edge today announced it is ending its partnership with Australian firm Healthscope and is looking for a new commercial partner in the country.

Pacific Edge CEO David Darling said in a statement that while Healthscope supported his firm with the launches of the first two Cxbladder tests, "We are now looking to finalize the selection and negotiation with a new commercial partner who will work with our team in New Zealand and our Melbourne-based in-country manager to drive sales and encourage clinical use of Cxbladder." Negotiations are expected to conclude in the "near term," he added.

Darling noted that Australia is a small market for Pacific Edge with about 3,000 Australians estimated to have bladder cancer this year.

The Dunedin, New Zealand-based firm said that its New Zealand laboratory will continue to process Cxbladder laboratory developed tests for Australian patients. The test stratifies patients with hematuria who have a low probability of urothelial carcinoma. That lab received CLIA certification in August and ISO accreditation in May. The firm also has a CLIA-certified lab in Hershey, Pennsylvania for testing patients in the US.