Siemens and LabCorp Enter Agreement to Co-Develop New Clinical Diagnostic Tests
May 08 2008 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
DEERFIELD, Ill., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Healthcare
and Laboratory Corporation of America(R) Holdings (LabCorp(R))
today announced that they have entered a non-exclusive agreement to
discuss future possibilities to co-develop new clinical diagnostic
tests in the areas of companion diagnostics, metabolic syndrome,
oncology and diabetes. Under the agreement, initial discussions
will focus on developing new tests that could make the biggest
impact to patient care. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )
Companion diagnostics are tests designed to identify the
suitability between patients and a particular drug therapy. The
tests can be used in personalized medicine to improve safety and
efficacy of therapeutic drugs and in some cases, may help determine
optimal dosing for individual patients. Metabolic syndrome is
becoming more common and is characterized by a person having
multiple risk factors that may include high blood pressure, heart
disease, obesity and diabetes, among others. It's estimated that
more than 50 million people are affected by this syndrome in the
United States alone(1). Diabetes is a chronic disease currently
affecting more than 180 million people worldwide and is likely to
more than double by 2030(2). Early detection and treatment of
diabetes may enable a patient to better maintain their lifestyle.
In addition, the possibility of advancing early detection of cancer
is important as it may lead to higher survival rates. One in eight
deaths worldwide is due to cancer, and in 2007, there were more
than 12 million estimated new cancer cases worldwide(3). Siemens is
a leader in the diagnostic industry with the broadest range of
products and services used for diagnosing medical conditions and
monitoring patient therapy; LabCorp is a reference laboratory
successfully serving more than 220,000 clients in America.
Together, the companies are well positioned to co-develop and
introduce new diagnostic tests that may advance patient care
through early detection and proper monitoring of disease. "This
agreement establishes a framework that gives both companies the
opportunity to offer new diagnostic tests to laboratories,
physicians and their patients more quickly and effectively than
either could do alone," said Dave Hickey, senior vice president
strategic planning and business development, Siemens Healthcare
Diagnostics. "Advancing health care for patients is an important
commitment that we can reach through strategic relationships such
as this." "LabCorp is excited about this strategic collaboration
and its impact on our companion diagnostics efforts," said Myla P.
Lai-Goldman, M.D., executive vice president, chief scientific
officer and medical director for LabCorp. "Alliances, such as this
between developers and providers of new tests, are critical in
translating emerging biomarkers from research into clinical
practice." About Siemens Healthcare Siemens Healthcare is one of
the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The
company is a renowned medical solutions provider with core
competence and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic
technologies as well as in knowledge engineering, including
information technology and system integration. With its laboratory
diagnostics acquisitions, Siemens Healthcare will be the first
fully integrated diagnostics company, bringing together imaging and
lab diagnostics, therapy, and healthcare information technology
solutions, supplemented by consulting and support services. Siemens
Healthcare delivers solutions across the entire continuum of care
-- from prevention and early detection, to diagnosis, therapy and
care. The company employs more than 49,000 people worldwide and
operates in 130 countries. In the fiscal year 2007 (Sept. 30),
Siemens Healthcare reported sales of euro 9.85 billion (on a pro
forma basis including Dade Behring roughly euro 11 billion), orders
of euro 10.27 billion, and group profit of euro 1.32 billion.
Further information can be found by visiting
http://www.siemens.com/healthcare. About LabCorp(R) Laboratory
Corporation of America(R) Holdings, a S&P 500 company, is a
pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the
first in its industry to embrace genomic testing. With annual
revenues of $4.1 billion in 2007, over 26,000 employees nationwide,
and more than 220,000 clients, LabCorp offers clinical assays
ranging from routine blood analyses to HIV and genomic testing.
LabCorp combines its expertise in innovative clinical testing
technology with its Centers of Excellence: The Center for Molecular
Biology and Pathology, National Genetics Institute, Inc., ViroMed
Laboratories, Inc., The Center for Esoteric Testing, DIANON
Systems, Inc., US LABS, and Esoterix and its Colorado Coagulation,
Endocrine Sciences, and Cytometry Associates laboratories. LabCorp
conducts clinical trial testing through its Esoterix Clinical
Trials Services division. LabCorp clients include physicians,
government agencies, managed care organizations, hospitals,
clinical labs, and pharmaceutical companies. To learn more about
our organization, visit our Web site at: http://www.labcorp.com/.
(1) American Heart Association (AHA) 2008. Web site accessed
Febuary 15, 2008:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4756 (2)
World Health Organization (WHO) 2008. Web site accessed Feburary
15, 2008:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/index.html (3)
Global Cancer Facts & Figures 2007; Publication of the American
Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia. View this document on the
following link:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/content/STT_1x_Global_Cancer_Facts_and_Figur
es_2007.asp (Due to length of URL, Please copy and paste link into
browser. Remove the space if one exists).
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGODATASOURCE:
Siemens Healthcare CONTACT: Marion Bludszuweit, +49 (9131) 84-3292,
; or Audra Murphy, +1-610-448-4547, Web site:
http://www.usa.siemens.com/healthcare http://www.labcorp.com/
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