Alliance to Develop Molecular Diagnostics

A long-term strategic alliance to develop, manufacture, and market a broad range of in vitro molecular diagnostic products has been announced by Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL, USA) and Celera Diagnostics Group (Alameda, CA, USA), a joint venture between Abbott and Applied Biosystems Group (Foster City, CA, USA).

The alliance plans to develop and commercialize molecular diagnostic products for disease detection, monitoring, and therapy selection. Diseases and chronic conditions to be targeted include cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, central nervous system disorders, and cancer. Around 250 scientists and engineers from the two companies will initially be devoted to the program, which will encompass a large-scale discovery effort to identify new diagnostic markers. Celera will focus on genetic marker discovery, new marker validation, and assay development. Abbott will focus on product development, sales, and marketing. The two companies will share technologies, patents, profits, and expenditures.

"This will help accelerate our joint strategy to develop and market a broad menu of next-generation molecular diagnostic products focused on unmet diagnostic needs,” said Edward Michael, vice president, commercial operations, diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories.