BD to Build Manufacturing Plant in China

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) is investing U.S.$16 million to construct a world-class manufacturing plant in China to produce rapid diagnostic products for flu and viral infections.

BD Rapid Diagnostics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., will be established in the Suzhou Export Processing Zone District B, with total investment anticipated to reach U.S.$48 million within a few years. The new plant will manufacture rapid diagnostic products for bacterial, parasitic, and viral diseases such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, and malaria. These products will be sold to countries and regions around the world, in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

"BD will start by transferring some existing technology from one of our U.S.-based facilities,” said Mike Meehan, president, Rapid Manual Testing. We also hope that as we establish our research capability, we will be able to develop diagnostics that are very well attuned to the needs of the Chinese medical community. By locating a major plant here we hope to contribute significantly to the healthcare system in China as well as in the developing world. BD's objective is to make rapid diagnostic products accessible to a wide range of markets, in line with our purpose of ‘Helping all people live healthy lives.'”

BD Rapid Diagnostics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. is expected to begin production in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2007, with plans to eventually manufacture products to diagnose about 30 infectious diseases. BD, a global medical technology company, makes and sells medical devices, instrumented systems, and reagents. Dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world, the company is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines.



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