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| November 6, 2002 |
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Mitsubishi to enter European diagnostics marketplace
Point of Care Testing sector to be main target for growth |
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| Mitsubishi Kagaku Medical |
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By taking a stand at Medica (G17, Hall 3), Mitsubishi Kagaku Medical has announced its intention to enter the European diagnostics marketplace. The company has been steadily building its market share for instruments and OEM reagents in Japan since 1982, and is confident that its PATHFAST Compact Chemiluminescent Immunoassay System, shown at Medica 2002, will be ideal for the rapidly growing European Point of Care Testing (POCT) sector.
According to Dr Ralf Thomae, General Manager, Diagnostics Business, Mitsubishi Chemical Europe, "The speed and sensitivity of the PATHFAST will make it ideal for rapid on the spot diagnostics testing in hospital and clinic environments. We plan to target the higher volume areas, with panels of tests for cardiac disease infectious diseases, fertility coagulation and specialties. We expect to see rapid growth in both instrument and reagent sales. For ease of use, the PATHFAST will be able to handle whole blood, serum and plasma samples."
The assays will be based on , chemiluminescent immunoassay coupled with the company's patented MAGTRATIONR magnetic separation technology. "MAGTRATION gives us a real edge in the market," says Dr Thomae, "It provides exceptionally clear separation of the bound and unbound fractions, leading to excellent signal to noise ratios and repeatability for immunoassays and DNA based assays."
Mitsubishi will also be marketing the LPIA - NV7, a bench-top system automated immunoassay system that provides results within five minutes for a variety of key analytes. "The NV7 takes full advantage of the speed of LPIA technology, and is always in 'Stand-by' mode. It provides random access to up to 15 chemistries and immunoassay and has a throughput of 200 samples per hour."
Initially, Mitsubishi will be headquartered in Dusseldorf. The company will sell direct in Germany, UK and main European countries, and via distributors elsewhere.
Looking to the future, Dr Thomae says, "We see major applications for our technologies as the 'theranostics' sector develops. To this end, we have already established links with a number of pre-eminent life science research institutions in Japan and Europe, and will be ensuring our test menu reflects their needs."
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