Beckman to Take Over Sales of Access System

The sales of the Access immunoassay instrument system and test kits in 90 markets in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific Rim will be taken over by owner Beckman Coulter (Fullerton, CA, USA), the company has announced. Beckman decided not to renew its distribution contract for Access with Bio-Rad Laboratories. The Access business was purchased by Beckman Coulter in 1997 from Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics (PSD), which became the distributor of the product at that time. Later, Bio-Rad acquired Sanofi and took over the distribution.

In order for Beckman Coulter to leverage our strength in total laboratory workflow and to optimize the value it creates for our customers, our conversations with Bio-Rad have led to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of both companies not to renew the agreement, said John P. Wareham, chairman, president, and CEO of Beckman Coulter.

The Access system is a random-access benchtop analyzer that performs a variety of assays, including test panels for cancer, anemia, cardiac problems, and infectious diseases. Separate research and development partnerships and contract manufacturing agreements are not affected by this decision and will be continued, said Beckman Coulter.