HemoSense has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Biodis SA, a STAGO group company, to market and distribute HemoSense's portable INRatio Prothrombin Time PT/INR Monitoring system for patient self-testing in France. The agreement with Biodis represents the company's 16th international distribution agreement and expands HemoSense's distributor reach to 22 countries internationally.

"We believe this agreement will provide our INRatio system instant credibility in the French market. The STAGO group is one of the largest diagnostic companies in the world and Biodis has a proven track record of developing and marketing hemostasis diagnostic products," Jim Merselis, HemoSense president and CEO said adding, "Additionally, we are pleased to expand INRatio's presence in the European market and believe Biodis is an excellent fit for INRatio."

Philippe Barroux, MD of Biodis added, "We view clearly that patient self testing will become a very important method of INR testing in France, as it is in surrounding countries. We are delighted to be introducing the INRatio system to the French market and trust that many professionals in physicians' offices and anticoagulation patients will find INRatio an appealing alternative to traditional testing methods."

HemoSense develops, manufactures and markets easy-to-use, handheld blood coagulation systems for monitoring patients taking warfarin. It provides accurate and convenient measurement of blood clotting time, or PT/INR values

Biodis markets new in vitro diagnostic products and instrumentation for the treatment of haemostatic disorders and the prediction of thromboembolic risk.