MedMira Inc., a developer of rapid testing technologies and solutions, announced a U.S. distribution agreement with VWR International LLC, a provider of laboratory supplies and services with worldwide sales in excess of $4.1 billion in 2012.
Through this new agreement, MedMira will benefit from the breadth and depth of VWR’s experience in reaching various U.S. industries including research, education and healthcare. VWR is selling MedMira’s Miriad platform technology as well as its Reveal G3 rapid HIV test. In the future, MedMira and VWR will expand more rapid testing products to its portfolio.
“MedMira’s proven technology and rapid tests will offer our customers the benefits of faster test times and simplified test procedures,” said Mark McLoughlin, senior vice president and president of VWR’s U.S. Lab Business. “We are very excited to add MedMira’s products to our extensive portfolio and to work closely with MedMira on their strategic U.S. expansion.”
“This agreement is a cornerstone of the foundation for MedMira’s future strategy,” said Kevin Jones, senior director, global sales and marketing, MedMira. “VWR has more than 300 U.S. representatives on the ground every day, in laboratories, universities and businesses in a variety of industries. We are thrilled and committed to work alongside VWR to bring our technologies and solutions to a much broader U.S. user base than we previously were able to reach.”
The U.S. accounts for 40% of global in vitro diagnostics sales, which are expected to reach an estimated value of $74.2 billion globally by 2018 (Transparency Market Research). Rapid testing for diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis are an increasingly important segment of the U.S. diagnostics industry. The CDC recently implemented revised guidelines calling for routine HIV screening of all people aged 15-65 and all pregnant women in the U.S. as part of the normal course of medical care. Public health organizations in the U.S. are also ramping up screening programs to detect Hepatitis C infection; it is estimated that there are 3.2 million people in the U.S. infected with Hepatitis C, 50 to 70% of whom are unaware of their infection.
Date: January 14, 2013
Source: MedMira
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
