Source: Bio Valley April 7, 2014 / Bio Valley bio on April 7, 2014
Iqum, located in Massachusetts, USA, focuses on the development of point of care (POC) products for the molecular diagnosis market
In accordance with the terms of the agreement, Roche will pay iqum's shareholders an upfront payment of $275 million and a contingent payment of $175 million for product related milestones
Once the deal is completed, iqum will be integrated into Roche molecular diagnostics
The acquisition will enable Roche to quickly enter the POC segment of molecular diagnosis
Roche will obtain iqum's Liat system (laboratory in-a-tube), which enables nurses to carry out rapid molecular diagnosis tests in closer proximity to the patient's nursing site with minimal training
Liat analyzer and Liat influenza A / b kit are the first products developed by using Liat system, which can provide reliable and accurate diagnostic results comparable to laboratory tests
At present, this product has been CE marked and approved by FDA
Roland diggelmann, chief operating officer of Roche Diagnostics, said that with the acquisition of iqulum, Roche will further strengthen its molecular diagnostics division with cutting-edge technologies and products serving the POC segment
Patients will benefit from accurate on-the-spot diagnosis, which enables healthcare professionals to make quick and informed treatment decisions in a flexible environment
About POCT: POCT (point of care testing) is a new mobile testing mode
Not only the professional medical staff, but also the patients and their families who have received simple training can complete the POCT independently and obtain the information that is helpful for clinical diagnosis
POCT is not only fast but also on-site analysis, which can not be realized by other inspection methods.
