Emerging Markets
Life Technologies, DaAn Gene to Develop Molecular Diagnostic Assays in China
Life Technologies Corp. has signed an agreement with DaAn Gene, a Chinese company in molecular IVDs, to form Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostics, a joint venture diagnostics business in China. The move is expected to contribute to the early diagnosis of oncology, infectious diseases and genetic diseases. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostics, with its headquarters in Guangzhou, will develop and commercialize a portfolio of molecular diagnostic assays...
Test Could Be Breakthrough in Field Diagnosis of Tropical Diseases
The New York Times reported that a new blood test for sleeping sickness that may prove to be the first major breakthrough in the field diagnosis of tropical diseases is to be unveiled in Mali this week by a Geneva-based foundation working with a Japanese chemical company. The test, called loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a simpler way to copy tiny amounts of DNA than the standard technique, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). But LAMP does not require heating and cooling, which...
Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies Opens Innovation Center In China
Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd. has established an innovation center in China to design and develop medical devices and diagnostic products specifically for Asia’s emerging markets, primarily focusing on China and India. The Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies Asia Pacific Innovation Center located in Suzhou, China was officially opened by Alex Gorsky, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, Johnson & Johnson. The Innovation Center is part of a Market Appropriate...
Chinmax Disclaims Liability in Suspected Forged SFDA Seal
Chinmax Medical Systems Inc., a cardiac biomarker distributor in China, announced that it disclaims all liability in connection with an official letter it received from the China State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), in which SFDA confirmed that it has investigated Inverness Medical Beijing (IMB), a subsidiary of Alere Inc., and suspects IMB of submitting a forged copy of the Triage BNP Test product standard including a fabricated chop of verification and date of verification approval. The...
Hologic Acquires TCT International
Hologic Inc. has acquired TCT International Co. Ltd., a distributor of medical products in China, including Hologic's ThinPrep Pap Test, related instruments and other diagnostic and surgical products. TCT is a privately-held distribution company headquartered in Beijing, China. TCT employs over 500 people and possesses a large, established nationwide sales organization and customer support infrastructure. TCT management has extensive experience in developing markets for new technologies and has...
Rwanda, Merck, Qiagen Launch Africa’s First Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention Program
The Government of Rwanda, together with Qiagen NV and Merck announced the launch in Kigali, Rwanda of a comprehensive national cervical cancer prevention program that includes vaccination with Gardasil [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] for appropriate girls 12-15 years of age and modern molecular diagnostic screening for women between the ages of 35 and 45. "It is our goal to create a comprehensive, coordinated program that includes HPV...
Thermo Fisher Scientific Accelerates Expansion in China
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced plans for a new manufacturing facility in China within the Suzhou Science and Technology Town - part of the company's strategy to aggressively expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The new facility, scheduled for completion in early 2012, will develop and manufacture laboratory instruments, equipment, and consumables for China's growing life sciences markets. The project will play an important role in the future growth of the Suzhou New District...
WHO Endorses New Rapid TB Test
WHO endorsed a new and novel rapid test for tuberculosis (TB), especially relevant in countries most affected by the disease. The test could revolutionize TB care and control by providing an accurate diagnosis for many patients in about 100 minutes, compared to current tests that can take up to three months to have results. WHO's endorsement of the rapid test, which is a fully automated NAAT (nucleic acid amplification test) follows 18 months of rigorous assessment of its field effectiveness in...
Roche Diagnostics Signs Memorandum of Understanding for a Strategic Partnership with CapitalBio
Roche Diagnostics and CapitalBio have announced their intention to initiate a strategic partnership targeting molecular diagnostic applications and the development of technologies to fill the unmet needs of researchers worldwide. This new development builds on the genomics and diagnostics expertise of the two companies and will focus on furthering microarray technologies and complementary products for molecular diagnostic applications. “This agreement is a significant step for Roche in...
Abbott Joins Clinton Health Access Initiative to Improve Infant HIV Testing in Africa
Abbott and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) have joined forces to provide HIV testing to infants in all countries working in partnership with CHAI. A key focus of this cooperation will be sub-Saharan Africa, which the World Health Organization estimates to account for 90% of global HIV infections in children. Under terms of the agreement, Abbott will supply its RealTime HIV-1 Qualitative test kits to healthcare facilities. The test is currently available for research use only and is...