Collaboration Between Lonza And BD Diagnostics
BD Diagnostics and Lonza Collaborate to Commercialize the Lonza microCompass Molecular Assays on the BD Max System
BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), and Lonza Group Ltd announced recently that they have entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement for Lonza to commercialize its microCompass molecular assays on the BD MAX System.
Lonza has the exclusive worldwide license to co-market the BD MAX System with the complete microCompass product line in selected fields. The microCompass assays on the BD Max system will provide an automated platform with same day results for quality control testing in the Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products market segments. BD and Lonza are also developing and optimizing automated rapid microbial testing solutions that are easy to use with true "load and walk away" functionality. "Collaboration is an important part of our strategy for the BD MAX System. Working with Lonza will accelerate the availability of an integrated molecular quality and process control system for industrial microbiologists," said Tom Polen, President of BD Diagnostics – Diagnostics Systems. "Together we can provide customers the benefits of an easy to operate, automated molecular diagnostic analyzer, the BD MAX System, with the extensive microCompass product line."
"Our collaboration with BD demonstrates our commitment to providing the best solutions to the challenges microbiologists face today, which include timely, reliable results from a system that is easy to use and that can be truly deployed at manufacturing sites globally," said Doug Danne, Head of the Rapid Testing Solutions business unit of Lonza. "Together through this partnership, we will provide a valuable tool for our customers that will enable them to increase workflow efficiencies."
The BD MAX System is based on microfluidics and molecular biology technologies, which fully automate nucleic acid extraction/recovery, polymerase chain reaction setup, amplification and detection. The microCompass assays will facilitate rapid detection for total bioburden load, sterility testing, Mycoplasma, and a variety of specific organisms. The microCompass reagents are designed to be flexible for ongoing assay development and menu expansion to meet global and manufacturing sites' unique needs.
Combined, this novel system provides quality control personnel with a rapid and accurate testing solution. This contributes to improved control, quality and efficiency in the manufacturing and overall product release process within the Pharmaceutical and Personal Care markets.
About BD
BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in more than 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, visit www.bd.com.
About Lonza
Lonza is one of the world's leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Products and services span its customers' needs from research to final product manufacture. It is the global leader in the production and support of active pharmaceutical ingredients both chemically as well as biotechnologically. Biopharmaceuticals are one of the key growth drivers of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Lonza has strong capabilities in large and small molecules, peptides, amino acids and niche bioproducts which play an important role in the development of novel medicines and healthcare products. In addition, Lonza is a leader in cell-based research, endotoxin detection and cell therapy manufacturing. Furthermore, the company is a leading provider of value chemical and biotech ingredients to the nutrition, hygiene, preservation, agro and personal care markets.
Lonza is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. In 2009, the company had sales of CHF 2.690 billion. For more information, visit www.lonza.com.
SOURCE: BD Diagnostics & Lonza