Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics working on autoimmune tests

07-Feb-2003

Hycor Biomedical Inc. and the diagnostics Division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the Bayer Group announced the signing of an exclusive, worldwide agreement for the development of autoimmune tests. Under the terms of the agreement, Hycor will develop and manufacture a broad menu of tests for the ADVIA Centaur® Immunoassay System. This laboratory testing system offers a broad range of tests for cancer, cardiovascular, fertility, allergy, anemia, thyrosis and infectious diseases. Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics' will retain exclusive rights to market the product. "Automating autoimmune testing on the ADVIA Centaur® system will provide laboratorians with significant productivity enhancements, while providing readily available and quality test results to clinicians," said Hans Hiller, PhD, senior vice-president laboratory testing segment, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Diagnostics Division. "Hycor's expertise in the development and manufacturing of autoimmune tests will enable us to offer customers high quality autoimmune products."

Estimated at $126 million, the autoimmune testing market is poised to grow significantly as the testing methodology shifts, new therapeutics are developed, and the population ages.

According to The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARD), there are over 80 autoimmune diseases, which affect 50 million Americans, the majority being women. Autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes, scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic active hepatitis. These diseases cost over $86 billion annually in health care costs and are the third leading cause of death and disability, following heart disease and cancer.

Other news from the department research and development

Most read news

More news from our other portals

Discover the latest developments in battery technology!