In vitro diagnostics (IVD) manufacturers DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy, and Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, Brea, Calif, have signed a distribution partnership agreement for the commercialization in China of DiaSorin’s hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests on the DiaSorin Liaison XL LAS connected to Beckman Coulter’s Power Express and Power Processor automated sample processing systems.

Rosa

Carlo Rosa, DiaSorin.

The mutually beneficial partnership enables DiaSorin to pursue its strategy to target China’s 8,000 large-size (Class IIA and III) hospitals, where there is a growing need to provide fully automated solutions able to run both clinical chemistry and immunoassays on the same platform. Similarly, the agreement facilitates Beckman Coulter’s strategy of providing its large-volume customers in China an integrated automation solution with a broad menu of assays. By combining Beckman Coulter’s diagnostic automation platforms with DiaSorin’s blood virus menu on the Liaison XL LAS, Beckman Coulter’s automation customers will be provided a more comprehensive and efficient workflow solution for all patient sample management.

“This agreement confirms our strategy to strengthen our presence in the large laboratories worldwide, including China,” says Carlo Rosa, CEO of the DiaSorin Group. “Our hepatitis B and C and HIV offer is complementary to that of Beckman Coulter, and I believe our combined menu will make the product offering complete and very competitive versus the other large players in this market.”

The agreement confirms several strategic directions for the companies, improving their offerings to the consolidated laboratory marketplace:

  • The agreement supports DiaSorin’s general commercial strategy for large accounts, where connectivity of the Liaison XL instrument with automated laboratory track systems of different partners is necessary to exploit the strength of DiaSorin’s test menu.
  • In China specifically, a key market where DiaSorin expects to grow more than 20% per year, the agreement enables the company to reach China’s vast hospital base with its standalone systems as well as with partners where full automation is required.
  • For Beckman Coulter, by choosing DiaSorin as its partner for this strategic initiative, the company furthers its market-leading position in the important China IVD automation segment.
Kaldowski

Arnd Kaldowski, Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.

“With this agreement, laboratories in the China market can experience the benefits of improved workflow through our automation and broad solutions in hematology, chemistry, and immunochemistry along with DiaSorin’s complementary menu of assays,” says Arnd Kaldowski, president of Beckman Coulter Diagnostics. “The agreement further demonstrates our recognition of the strength of the China market and our commitment to its continued growth.”

In China, the DiaSorin hepatitis and retrovirus tests will meet a market need of considerable size. In 2013, according to the World Health Organization, 120 million people were infected with hepatitis B, 39 million with hepatitis C, and close to one million with HIV.

DiaSorin is already present in the blood bank segment of the Chinese market with its Murex ELISA product line, as well as with its Liaison XL hepatitis and HIV product lines in the midsize hospital segment. The company estimates that the total Chinese market for hepatitis and HIV testing is more than $250 million in value, with an annual growth rate in the range of 10% to 12%.

For further information visit the DiaSorin Group and Beckman Coulter Diagnostics.