Strategic Alliance in Cervical Cancer Diagnostics

A strategic alliance has been formed by Ampersand Medical Corp. (Chicago, IL, USA; www.ampersandmedical.com) and AmeriPath, Inc. (Riviera Beach, FL, USA; www.ameripath.com) for the joint development of new diagnostic technologies and products relating to cervical cancer.

AmeriPath will receive an undisclosed amount of equity in Ampersand as compensation for its development work and will also provide laboratory services for continued research and clinical trials. Ampersand will pay Ameripath for these services. The two companies will work to bring to market several of Ampersand's products. These include its InPath In-Cell test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) through the identification of increased activity of the E6 and E7 oncogenes for HPV and its disposable liquid cell preservation and slide-preparation system that requires no instrumentation.

AmeriPath will purchase and distribute Ampersand's e2 Collector for cervical samples and will conduct a pilot project using Ampersand's Samba telemedicine and image-management system. AmeriPath is a leading U.S. provider of anatomic pathology, cancer diagnostics, and laboratory information services to doctors and hospitals. "AmeriPath will play a vital role in our goal to offer low cost/easy access cancer screening on a global basis,” said Peter P. Gombrich, chairman and CEO of Ampersand.



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