Abott Laboratories and Celera Diagnostics form alliance to develop and market molecular diagnostic products
Alliance to capitalize on extensive dicsovery effort to identify new diagnostic markers for disease
The alliance, the most comprehensive in its field, plans to develop and commercialize molecular diagnostic products to detect and manage infectious diseases and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, central nervous system disorders and cancer. Approximately 250 scientists and engineers from the two companies will initially be devoted to the program, which will encompass a large-scale discovery effort to identify new diagnostic markers. Celera Diagnostics will focus primarily on genetic marker discovery, new marker validation and assay development. Abbott will focus on product development, sales and marketing — serving as the worldwide distributor for most products developed by the alliance.
Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott and Celera Diagnostics will share both expenditures and profits related to research, development, manufacture and commercialization of new molecular diagnostic products. All relevant Abbott and Applera technologies and patents will be available to the alliance, including instrumentation from Applied Biosystems and genomic data and analytical tools from Celera Genomics. A joint review board composed of members from both companies will manage the alliance. Alliance activities will not include the development or commercialization of proteins, immunoassays or products in the research or pharmaceutical market. Other terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
"This alliance complements Abbott's capabilities and enables us to access Celera Diagnostics’ expertise in genomics discovery as well as other Applera capabilities and technologies critical to ensure success," said Edward Michael, vice president, Commercial Operations, Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories. "This will help accelerate our joint strategy to develop and market a broad menu of next-generation molecular diagnostic products focused on unmet diagnostic needs."
"Our mutual goal is break-through products leading to earlier detection of life- threatening diseases, and improved selection of effective treatments," said Kathy Ordonez, president, Celera Diagnostics. "Our collaboration with Abbott is expected to accelerate the successful commercialization of new molecular diagnostic products that realize the potential from the mapping of the human genome and the large-scale disease association studies already on-going at Celera Diagnostics."
Molecular-based diagnostic tests identify genetic information associated with human disease, and can help predict and monitor individual patient responses to therapies. The $1 billion molecular diagnostic market is growing at the industry's highest rate — more than 25 percent per year.
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Topic world Diagnostics
Diagnostics is at the heart of modern medicine and forms a crucial interface between research and patient care in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It not only enables early detection and monitoring of disease, but also plays a central role in individualized medicine by enabling targeted therapies based on an individual's genetic and molecular signature.
Topic world Diagnostics
Diagnostics is at the heart of modern medicine and forms a crucial interface between research and patient care in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. It not only enables early detection and monitoring of disease, but also plays a central role in individualized medicine by enabling targeted therapies based on an individual's genetic and molecular signature.