Is it one (more) small step for personalized medicine? Saladax Biomedical announced today that it has expanded its existing relationship with Bristol-Myers Squibb by signing a Master Early Development Collaboration Agreement. The contract, which may include multiple feasibility studies and companion diagnostic development projects, comes as the companies have initiated a new companion diagnostic project in an undisclosed field.

The two companies intially entered into a collaboration in 2010 for the development of clinical diagnostic tests for Altzheimer's disease in conjunction with therapeutic compounds developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb, as reported in the IVDT Insight blog.

"Building on our previous work together, which resulted in clinically valuable Alzheimer's disease assays, we're eager to continue marrying the scientific and clinical knowledge [of the two companies]," said Kevin M. Harter, Saladax president and CEO, in a press release published today.