Biotest AG: Olympus and Biotest redefine distribution relationship for Tango® systems
Biotest AG / Alliance
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Olympus and Biotest redefine distribution relationship for Tango® systems
Center Valley, PA / Dreieich, 20 October 2006. Olympus America Inc. and
Biotest AG of Germany have redefined the agreement under which Biotest’s
TANGO® Automated Blood Bank systems will be sold, serviced and supported
throughout the U.S. Under the new relationship, Biotest will market TANGO
directly to American hospitals through its U.S. subsidiary, Biotest
Diagnostics Corporation. Olympus will continue to serve its
well-established blood donor market in the U.S. with TANGO instrumentation,
software and reagents, and will also provide instrument service and
technical telephone support to all TANGO customers.
“We have made a strategic decision to focus U.S. marketing efforts for
TANGO systems into two primary user markets – hospitals and blood donor
centers,” said Prof. Gregor Schulz, CEO of Biotest AG. “Biotest is rapidly
expanding its existing hospital diagnostic business to include a dedicated
transfusion diagnostic sales and support organization. Marketing TANGO
directly to hospitals in the U.S. will allow Biotest to realize our maximum
growth potential in America and take advantage of our newly developed sales
and marketing infrastructure.” Candace Williams, formerly Director of
Immunohematology with Olympus America, has joined Biotest as Vice President
of Transfusion Diagnostics to lead and direct the new organization.
“The change is well timed,” said Michael Argentieri, Vice President of
Sales and Marketing for Olympus America’s Diagnostic Systems Group, “and
it benefits our customers because it will allow each company to focus its
own strengths to their specific target group.” Argentieri noted that the
new agreement does not affect Olympus’ substantial PK blood analyzer
business in the U.S. Olympus will continue serving blood donor centers
with the full PK product line.
The TANGO system is capable of performing a host of functions including
blood group determination, antibody screening and identification,
phenotyping, and compatibility testing. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) cleared the system and licensed its blood grouping and anti-human
globulin reagents for use in the U.S. in July 2005.
The change in TANGO marketing strategy became effective October 15.
About Olympus Diagnostic Systems
Olympus Diagnostic Systems provides innovative solutions that meet the high
productivity demands of hospitals, integrated healthcare delivery networks,
reference labs, blood banks and pharmaceutical labs. Olympus offers the
broadest standardized line of random access chemistry-immuno analyzers,
along with lab automation systems, blood bank analyzers and reagents.
Olympus solutions save laboratories time, maximize productivity, and
deliver fast, reliable results.
About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, designing and delivering imaging
solutions in healthcare, life science and photography. Olympus works
collaboratively with its customers and its parent company, Tokyo-based
Olympus Corporation, to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and
manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:
- Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical
products;
- Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
- Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and
reagents; and
- Digital and film cameras, and digital voice recorders.
In the U. S. and Canada, Olympus serves healthcare, scientific and
commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and
financial, educational and consulting services that help customers
efficiently, reliably, safely, and easily achieve superior results. Olympus
is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational
microscopes. The company’s consumer electronics business spans North and
South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.
About Biotest
Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany, is a company that researches and
manufactures pharmaceutical, biotherapeutic and diagnostic products and has
specialised in immunology and haematology. In its Pharmaceutical segment,
Biotest develops immunoglobulines, clotting factors and albumins based on
human blood plasma. These are used for diseases of the immune system or
haematopoietic system. In addition, Biotest also researches into the
clinical development of monoclonal antibodies, including in the indications
of rheumatoid arthritis and blood cancer. The Diagnostic segment spans
reagents and serology and microbiology systems which are used, for example,
in blood transfusions. Biotest has around 1,100 employees worldwide and its
shares are listed in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange's Prime Standard.
Biotest AG: Dr. Michael Ramroth, Telefon: +49 (0) 6103 801-338
Telefax: +49 (0) 6103 801-347, E-Mail: michael.ramroth@biotest.de
Biotest AG, Landsteinerstr. 5, D-63303 Dreieich, www.biotest.de
German Securities Code Number, ISIN ordinary shares: 522720, DE0005227201
German Securities Code Number, ISIN preferred shares: 522723, DE0005227235
Listed: Prime Standard/Official market
Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
DGAP 20.10.2006
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Language: English
Issuer: Biotest AG
Landsteinerstr. 5
63303 Dreieich Deutschland
Phone: +49 - 6103 / 801 - 0
Fax: +49 - 6103 / 801 - 150
E-mail: mail@biotest.de
WWW: www.biotest.de
ISIN: DE0005227201, DE0005227235
WKN: 522720, 522723
Indices:
Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr in
Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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