Beckman Coulter, Oncotech Team on Cancer Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Inc. and Oncotech Inc. said Tuesday that they have formed an alliance to develop and market new technologies to diagnose cancer and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.

Financial terms between Beckman, a Fullerton maker of medical instruments and products, and Oncotech, an Irvine oncology company, weren’t disclosed.

The companies said in a press release that they will collaborate on the discovery of genetic markers for early stage malignancies in colon, ovarian, breast, prostate and lung cancer.

If successful, the new product could detect cancer earlier than existing methods, a Beckman spokeswoman said. The first new cancer marker is expected to hit the market no sooner than 2002, she said.

Oncotech provides state-of-the-art molecular oncology laboratory services to assist physicians in the care and management of their cancer patients.

Beckman’s products include systems for blood and other cell analysis.