Global Partnership Aims to Streamline NGS Tumor Profiling in Oncology Trials

CellCarta and Pillar Biosciences announced a global, multi-year strategic partnership on April 2, 2026 to broaden access to operationally streamlined next-generation sequencing (NGS) tumor profiling for biopharma sponsors and clinical research partners worldwide. The collaboration pairs Pillar’s oncoReveal kitted NGS panels with CellCarta’s global laboratory network and biomarker expertise to reduce screening friction, improve turnaround time, and lower failure rates. It is also positioned to support scalable companion diagnostic programs as investigational therapies advance.

The partners state that right-sizing molecular testing to each study objective can avoid the delays and costs that arise when broad panels are used by default. The approach emphasizes indication-relevant panels, with flexibility to develop custom content aligned to sponsor programs. The workflow is intended to deliver consistent performance expectations and faster sample-to-report execution compared with more operationally burdensome approaches used in traditional models.

Image: The collaboration pairs Pillar’s oncoReveal kitted NGS panels with CellCarta’s global laboratory network and biomarker expertise (photo courtesy of Pillar Biosciences)

According to the announcement, the partnership directly addresses rising trial complexity, tighter timelines, and budget constraints confronting sponsors. By enabling decentralized, targeted tumor profiling through standardized kits and coordinated global execution, the model aims to support faster enrollment and reduce screen-fail rates. Pillar’s portfolio is built on proprietary SLIMamp chemistry and is designed to make high-value tumor profiling operationally accessible while maintaining actionable outputs.

“Our kitted NGS panels, based on our proprietary SLIMamp® chemistry, were designed to make high-value tumor profiling more operationally accessible to laboratories across the globe while still delivering actionable insights,” said Dan Harma, Chief Commercial Officer at Pillar Biosciences. “By partnering with CellCarta, we can extend that value through a trusted global laboratory network and help sponsors deploy testing strategies that match today's realities: increasing trial complexity, tighter timelines, and more cost discipline.”