Magellan Diagnostics (Meridian Bioscience, Inc., NASDAQ: VIVO) Continues Global Development, Signs Exclusive Partnership to P...
March 07 2017 - 09:17AM
Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIVO) announced today that
Magellan Diagnostics Inc., a business unit of Meridian since March
2016, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Biofirm
Technologies, one of the leading providers of laboratory equipment,
consumables, reagents, and medical equipment in East and Central
Africa. Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® II blood lead testing
system is the only FDA cleared, rapid and portable system capable
of providing a quantitative blood lead result in just three
minutes. LeadCare II is used in thousands of pediatric and
primary care settings in the United States to help doctors diagnose
lead exposure quickly and easily, from just two drops of
blood.
Lead exposure is a global health threat because,
even at low levels, it can cause behavioral and learning
disabilities, hyperactivity and lower IQ, as well as hypertension
and kidney dysfunction. A 2015 report by the World Health
Organization on lead poisoning explains that African countries have
a “range of ongoing, lead-related public health concerns” driven by
numerous “sources of lead to which African children may be exposed,
often simultaneously.” These sources include: lead paint in
homes, on toys and on playground equipment; occupational sources
from mining, smelting, battery manufacture/recycling, and e-waste
processing; as well traditional medicines, cosmetics, and artisanal
cookware. The report goes on to describe a health economic study
that “conservatively estimated that, annually, around 98.2 million
IQ points are lost in Africa due to lead exposure, translating into
economic losses of US $134.7 billion.”
Describing the need for LeadCare II in Africa,
Amy Winslow, president and CEO of Magellan Diagnostics explained,
“We have seen devastating news of entire communities destroyed by
lead poisoning, whether by artisanal gold mining in Zamfara,
Nigeria, or from industrial exposures in Mombasa, Kenya.
Sadly, behind these headlines is the quieter reality that lead
exposure sources are myriad, resulting in blood lead levels for
children and pregnant women that are far above what we see in the
U.S. To understand the challenges of lead poisoning, and to find
solutions, you must have a simple way to identify who is most at
risk. We look forward to helping Biofirm Technologies provide
LeadCare II to address this need.”
Lourdes Weltzien, president of Meridian Asia
Pacific, who is in charge of leveraging Meridian’s global footprint
to expand distribution of LeadCare II commented, “We have seen
incredible interest in LeadCare II from regions across the globe,
especially in areas like Africa, China, India and Australia where
battery manufacturing/recycling, e-waste, or mining and smelting
industries are common. Lead poisoning is a devastating and
preventable disease. We are looking forward to having a positive
impact with a device that can be used anywhere and provide answers
in 3 minutes, ultimately helping to preserve the potential of
millions of children.”
Distribution activities with Biofirm
Technologies will begin immediately, focusing on developing
awareness, at clinical and governmental levels, about the problem
of lead poisoning. Education will address sources of lead exposure,
consequences – including deficits in fertility, fetal growth,
intellectual development, learning and behavior – as well as how
portable testing can rapidly identify at-risk populations.
About Magellan Diagnostics, Inc.
Magellan Diagnostics is a medical device company
that provides point-of-care systems, clinical laboratory
instruments, and analytical laboratory services focused on lead
testing. A business unit of Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Magellan is
headquartered outside Boston in Billerica, Massachusetts, and is
dedicated to offering high-quality, reliable products that help
identify children and adults at risk of harm due to lead exposure.
We are committed to educating clinicians, policy makers,
payers, families and communities about the permanent health damage
caused by lead and how to detect and address lead exposure.
For more information, visit www.magellandx.com.
About Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops,
manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative
diagnostic test kits, rare reagents, specialty biologicals and
components. Utilizing a variety of methods, our diagnostic tests
provide accuracy, simplicity and speed in the early diagnosis and
treatment of common medical conditions, such as infections and lead
poisoning. Meridian’s diagnostic products are used outside of the
human body and require little or no special equipment. The
Company's diagnostic products are designed to enhance patient
well-being while reducing the total outcome costs of health care.
Meridian has strong market positions in the areas of
gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections, and blood lead
level testing. In addition, Meridian is a supplier of rare
reagents, specialty biologicals and components used by
organizations in the life science and agri-bio industries engaged
in research. Its products are also used by companies as components
in the manufacture of diagnostics. The Company markets its products
and technologies to hospitals, reference laboratories, research
centers, diagnostics manufacturers and agri-bio companies in more
than 70 countries around the world. The Company’s shares are traded
on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian's website
address is www.meridianbioscience.com.
Contact:
Amy Winslow
President, Chief Executive Officer
Magellan Diagnostics
Phone: 978-856-2345
Email: info@magellandx.com
Lourdes Weltzien
President of Meridian Asia Pacific
Telephone: 901-382-8716 or
Email: info@meridianlifescience.com
John A. Kraeutler
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Phone: 513.271.3700
Email: mbi@meridianbioscience.com
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