Going all-in on genomic cancer diagnostics GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) is collaborating with GE Healthcare to establish a network of clinical laboratories to identify genetic mutations associated with specific tumor types. The company has disclosed its second deal in less than a week designed to improve the analysis of genetic mutations in oncology. The deal is expected to lead to a lab and data analytics subscription-based service through GE's Clarient Diagnostic Services. Last week, GSK and Pfizer ($PFE) partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific ($TMO) to create a companion diagnostic for solid tumors that's useful across multiple, marketed and clinical drug programs.The new collaboration with GE will initially focus on metastatic melanoma. The partners expect that GSK and Clarient would certify labs to provide clinical, pathology and genomics diagnostic data. The first certified labs are expected to be operational in several locations early next year. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed."Our arrangement with GSK will enable us to leverage our clinical, technical and quality management expertise to credential laboratory partners worldwide," Clarient CEO Cindy Collins said in a statement. "This global network of high quality diagnostic capability can be leveraged with confidence by all pharmaceutical companies in search of rigorously standardized oncology diagnostic services and data."Clarient expects to roll out the subscription-based service to healthcare organizations globally. The idea is to provide standardized lab service to both biopharma companies and healthcare providers. The partners expect that the sheer scale of this effort will enable the inclusion of geographical analysis and epidemiological data, as well as enabling the identification of potential clinical trial participants.Testing will initially address more than 70 mutations relevant to melanoma, including BRAF V600E and V600K, with the potential to expand to other tumor types as the network of clinical labs matures.GSK is in a duel with Roche ($RHHBY) with genetically targeted melanoma combos. GSK just offered additional Phase III data on Sept. 29 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Madrid for its melanoma combo, the already approved Tafinlar and Mekinist that target BRAF and MEK, respectively. The combo was tested in a population with BRAF V600E or V600K genetic mutations. The FDA gave GSK an accelerated approval for the combo to treat advanced melanoma in January. Roche reported comparable results for its own BRAF/MEK combo to treat melanoma at the ESMO conference.Clarient is a CLIA-licensed network of labs and already offers extensive cancer diagnostics, including cytometry and molecular testing. It's also working on developing companion diagnostic markers for therapeutics in breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers, and leukemia/lymphoma."Through this agreement, we hope to better address the variability in access and quality of diagnostic testing which is a common problem seen with targeted oncology therapies and related companion diagnostics globally" GSK's Head of Oncology Companion Diagnostics and Disease Strategy Jonathan Pan said in a statement. "The commercial testing infrastructure created through this collaboration will enable advanced diagnostic solutions that should improve how patient care is delivered."