Bio-Rad Laboratories has entered into a marketing agreement with Enzon Pharmaceuticals to co-promote Bio-Rad's Platelia Aspergillus EIA test kit in the United States and Canada
The test is the only FDA-cleared method for diagnosing invasive aspergillosis.
Invasive aspergillosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that leads to high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients such as those suffering from cancer, HIV and recipients of bone marrow and solid organ transplants.
While the infection is difficult to diagnose using traditional laboratory methods which are often invasive, time-consuming and lack the sensitivity needed to produce conclusive results, Bio-Rad's Aspergillus test provides fast, highly accurate results.
This breakthrough test received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in May 2003.
"We are pleased to be able to partner with Enzon to offer laboratories and physicians a dramatic improvement to traditional methods of diagnosing Invasive Aspergillosis", said John Goetz, Bio-Rad vice president of clinical diagnostics.
"The combination of Bio-Rad?s powerful diagnostic tool with Abelcet's proven track record as an effective antifungal agent will enable our sales team to provide physicians with a premier package aimed at total patient care", said Clarke Atwell, Enzon vice president of sales and marketing.
