Roche Diagnostics and Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Tokyo, continue their plans to strengthen their position in the immunochemistry market. The new 10 year collaboration is a further significant step forward into the multibillion Dollar immunochemistry business based on laboratory automation solutions providing essential medical information to physicians.
This new agreement follows a very successful 25-years long partnership between the two companies in the area of automated analytical systems for clinical laboratories. This market, the biggest segment of the in-vitro-diagnostics market, is estimated to be worth 6.8 billion $US today. Under the terms of the new agreement, Roche Diagnostics and Hitachi High-Technologies will continue to jointly innovate and develop future laboratory automation solutions responding to the need to supply fast and reliable patient data.
"The new agreement marks another important milestone in our successful partnership and we have ensured the continuity of our collaboration for the next 10 years. We firmly believe that our renewed commitment will maximize our respective positions in the highly competitive In-Vitro Diagnostics market," states Heino von Prondzynski, Head of Roche Diagnostics and a member of Roche's corporate executive committee.
"We will continue to focus on innovations and new technology concepts to support healthcare professionals in their efforts to optimize care and help people in urgent need."
"With this new contract Hitachi High- Technologies and Roche Diagnostics will continue to enhance the value of the clinical laboratory in the health care delivery process. We are excited about the opportunities which lie ahead of us," says Dr. Katsuji Yamashita, senior vice president, executive officer and general manager of Life Science Business Group of Hitachi High-Technologies.
Valued at 6.8 billion $US today, immunochemistry is the biggest part of the in-vitro diagnostics market. In the first three months this year Roche Diagnostics has recorded a significant double digit growth of 24 per cent (27 per cent in CHF) in this market. Immunochemistry assays are based on an "antigen-antibody" reaction. The presence of specific antigens and/or antibodies in the body can be a very clear indication of specific diseases or functional disorders, for example Elecsys proBNP for heart insufficiency.
Like a specific key which fits with the respective lock there is a high specificity of the anti-body and anti-gen reaction thus allowing the use of these molecules as indicators for diseases or disorders. Roche's Elecsys system is based on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology and has become a cornerstone in the central laboratory.