Cambridge, UK, 12 March 2008 … Pronostics Ltd, developer and manufacturer of next generation multiplexed diagnostics for healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry, has signed a distribution agreement with Medipan GmbH, for its autoimmune disease biomarker assays. This range of UltraPlex™ assays provide a powerful tool for clinicians allowing for rapid, accurate and inexpensive diagnosis of autoimmune diseases.
Medipan is a leader in the distribution of in vitro diagnostic tests in the field of autoimmunity and will use its highly experienced sales force initially to sell Pronostics’ UltraPlex™ ANA, Coeliac and Thyroid assays in Germany and Austria. Germany is Europe’s largest market for diagnostic products. As part of the agreement, Medipan will market the assays to hospitals and large private laboratories. The deal could initially generate up to €2 million in revenues and Medipan will have an exclusive license to sell the UltraPlex™ assays throughout the territory. The 2005 worldwide market for autoimmune tests was estimated at $250M and forecast to grow to $410M by 2010 (Kalorama Information April 2006).
Robert Booth, CEO of Pronostics said: “We are delighted to have partnered with a leading distributor in the autoimmune diagnostics field. The agreement is an endorsement of the superiority of our UltraPlex™ technology which underpins our range of multiplexed diagnostic assays. With this agreement, we can now expand the benefits of UltraPlex™ into the largest market for diagnostics in Europe’’.
UltraPlex™ is an exceptionally accurate, digital multiplexing solution which enables tens to hundreds of tests to be performed simultaneously in a single assay using a microscopic bar-coding system. The company’s lead product, the UltraPlex™ ANA assay, which consists of 11 tests in one, provides valuable time and cost savings compared to existing serial testing approaches using panels of Hep-2 screens and ELISA tests. It allows hospitals and laboratories to perform fully automated profiles of patient samples and gives both quantitative and qualitative results for antibodies to autoimmune diseases.
Dr Dirk Roggenbuck, CEO of Medipan, added: “We are very pleased to have been chosen as the distributor for the UltraPlex™ range of autoimmune assays. The UltraPlex™ platform is more efficient and economical in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases than conventional approaches and we are looking forward to providing our customers with this improved service.”
Pronostics is a leading clinical diagnostics company, providing diagnostic and disease monitoring applications, through its core UltraPlex™ technology. UltraPlex™ is a ‘next generation’ multiplexing solution enabling tens to hundreds of assays to be performed simultaneously in a single test using a microscopic digital bar-coding system. UltraPlex™ improves the speed, efficiency and cost of clinical diagnostic testing and drug development and combined with Pronostics’ FingerPrint Immunomics technology, is enabling the next generation multivariate diagnostics.
Websites: http://www.pro-nostics.com and http:///www.ultraplex.com
Medipan, founded in 1992 by Reinhold Hartwig and Dr. Horst Steinmaus, is an accepted and innovative partner for laboratories and physicians inside and outside of Germany.
Medipan develops and distributes in vitro diagnostic tests, predominantly in the field of Autoimmunity. Medipan‘s product portfolio provides a wide range of assays and is expanding continuously. The company offers technical, medical and scientific expertise and support ensuring the success of their partner’s clinical and business objectives.
Website: http://www.medipan.de