Progenika Biopharma Grants Grifols World-Wide Distribution Rights for the BLOODCHIP® Genotyping Test for Blood Donors

BARCELONA, Spain, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Spanish biotechnology company Progenika Biopharma, specializing in the development of personal medicine technology, has granted Grifols exclusive world-wide distribution rights for its BLOODCHIP® molecular biology products.  BLOODCHIP® products are used for genotyping of blood donors to assure the compatibility of blood for transfusion between donor and recipient.

Under this agreement, Grifols takes a further step towards the consolidation of its Diagnostic division, expanding its range of products at the leading edge of immunohematology technology.   In addition, Grifols' presence in more than 90 countries will global distribution of the BLOODCHIP® product line.  Likewise, the international presence of Grifols in more than 90 countries through the 22 Grifols' affiliates assures effective global distribution of the test.  

The new product line is expected to generate revenues of between euro 50 and euro 100 million over the next 5 years. Although the use of molecular biology tests in transfusion compatibility is still at its early stages, its use is expected to become more widespread as a result of the hemovigilance and transfusion safety plans being introduced in many countries.

Victor Grifols, President and CEO of Grifols stated: "This agreement will allow us to strengthen our Diagnostic Division and consolidate our global position in the field of blood grouping with a new innovative tool that increases transfusion safety."  For his part, Antonio Martinez, CEO of Progenika, noted that, "This distribution agreement ensures that our products will be properly marketed, and allows us to focus on the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools that improve quality of life."

About the BLOODCHIP® test

BLOODCHIP^® is an integrated circuit that determines the main allelic variants of blood groups and platelet antigens by analyzing 128 genetic polymorphisms.  The test is used to prevent potential transfusion reactions in those patients for whom conventional serological tests are insufficient.

The BLOODCHIP^® test already holds a CE mark for marketing in Europe and has been developed by the Bloodgen Consortium, a leading European group consisting of blood banks, research institutes and Progenika Biopharma, SA., whose mission is to improve patient safety and transfusion compatibility by blood group and genotype.  

About Grifols

Grifols is a Spanish holding company, specializing in the hospital-pharmaceutical sector, and with a presence in over 90 countries. Since May 2006 it has been listed on the Spanish Continuous Market, and since 2008 it has been included in the Ibex-35. It focuses on the research, development, manufacture and marketing of plasma products, diagnostic systems, intravenous therapies, enteral nutrition and medical supplies. In recent years Grifols has made significant investments in the area of transfusionmedicine to ensure the strategic and technological position of the company in this area.

About Progenika

Progenika, a Spanish company which specializes in personalized medicine., develops DNA biochips for the diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of response to treatment of complex human illnesses. Progenika offers DNA based tests in areas such as: oncology, the lipids, Nervous System diseases or the optimization of its treatments. Among its out-standing products, in addition to the BLOODchip, they find the LIPOchip, PHARMAchip, Promonitor, BRAINchip.  Progenika was founded in 2000. Its development and production centers are located in the Zamudio Technology Park (in Spain) and in Cambridge (Massachusetts, USA), and it has commercial and intellectual property management offices in Madrid and London. Over 140 scientists are currently employed by the company, which products are commercialized in America, Europe and Middle East.

For more information please visit www.grifols.com.

SOURCE Grifols, Inc.