Luminex Corporation Wins Prestigious 2010 Prix Galien USA Award

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Luminex Corporation (Nasdaq: LMNX), today announced it has won the prestigious 2010 Prix Galien USA Award for its innovative xTAG® Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP). The novel diagnostic test was named Best Medical Technology at the Prix Galien USA and International awards ceremony and gala held September 28, 2010, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

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"We are very pleased and excited to receive this coveted award, which recognizes Luminex's xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel and its important contributions to healthcare," said Patrick Balthrop, President and Chief Executive Officer of Luminex. "xTAG RVP is helping physicians pinpoint the cause of respiratory infections faster and more accurately than ever before. The test is improving patient care, preventing the use of unnecessary medications and reducing healthcare costs.  We are honored to be recognized by Prix Galien for this product."

xTAG RVP received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2008 to detect 12 viruses and subtypes that together are responsible for more than 85 percent of respiratory viral infections. The first test of its kind, it can detect more respiratory viruses than any other test on the market and provide results in a matter of hours. xTAG RVP also was an important surveillance and diagnostic tool during the 2009 Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic.  

The Prix Galien Award recognizes the technical, scientific and clinical research skills necessary to develop innovative medicines, and is considered equivalent to the Nobel Prize. Prix Galien was first established in 1970 by French pharmacist Roland Mehl and was inaugurated in the United States in September 2007. The Prix Galien USA awards committee of 11 individuals includes seven Nobel Laureates, founders of major biotech companies and editors of world-renowned biology journals.

About Luminex Corporation

Luminex Corporation develops, manufactures and markets proprietary biological testing technologies with applications throughout the diagnostic and life sciences industries. The Company's xMAP® multiplex solutions include an open-architecture, multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, including the genomics and proteomics markets. The Company's xMAP Technology is sold worldwide and is already in use in leading clinical laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies. Further information on Luminex Corporation or xMAP Technology can be obtained at www.luminexcorp.com.

SOURCE Luminex Corporation