Tecan and Enigma Diagnostics Sign Global Manufacturing and Supply Agreement for Point-of-Care Molecular Diagnostics Instruments

MANNEDORF, Switzerland and OXFORD, England, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire/ --

• Tecan to industrialize and supply commercially manufactured Diagnostics instruments
• First demonstration instruments delivered
• Commercial launch of Enigma ML for initial use is anticipated in Q4 2010

The Tecan Group (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN), a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions, and Enigma Diagnostics Limited, the decentralised and point-of-care molecular diagnostics company, announced today the signing of a manufacturing and supply agreement for Enigma's ML instruments. Under the agreement, Tecan will industrialize and deliver commercially manufactured ML instruments for Enigma's global market supplies for an initial five-year contract and will also manage the ML instrument's supply chain. The first ML demonstration instruments have been delivered for Enigma's GlaxoSmithKline delivery commitments for point-of-care molecular diagnostic influenza tests.  

The launch of Enigma ML and supply of commercial series systems for its initial use to identify specific influenza virus strains is anticipated in Q4 2010, subject to successful clinical trials and regulatory approval. Enigma will also add additional tests for other areas such as infectious disease management to the ML system test menu in the future.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

John McKinley, Chairman and CEO of Enigma, said: "This is a milestone agreement for Enigma. We chose Tecan for its leading reputation as a developer and manufacturer of commercial medical instruments and its global range of technical and support services network. This represents the first of a number of potential additional agreements relating to Tecan's support of the Enigma ML system."

Thomas Bachmann, CEO of Tecan, said: "We are excited to be partnering with such an innovative company as Enigma. We are highly committed to contributing to the success of the wide range of potential applications and tests the ML instrument platform offers with our experience in manufacturing and servicing high quality and regulatory compliant diagnostic products. The dedicated and modular ML instrument marks a breakthrough in point-of-care molecular diagnostics."

About the Enigma ML Instrument  

The Enigma ML instrument delivers fully-automated results from swab samples in less than 60 minutes at the point of care and to the same accuracy standards as reference laboratories. This will mean that patients can be tested for a broad range of diseases including specific influenza subtypes in the community and receive appropriate treatment rapidly. Currently the existing network of government diagnostic laboratories, staffed by specialist operators, can often take several days before the results of tests are known. Operators of the Enigma ML system will not require specialist training.

About Tecan

Tecan (www.tecan.com) is a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions in biopharmaceuticals, forensics, and clinical diagnostics. The company specializes in the development, production and distribution of automation solutions for laboratories in the life sciences sector. With its subsidiary REMP (www.remp.com), Tecan is the market leader in automated laboratory storage and logistics systems.  Its clients include pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, university research departments, forensic and diagnostic laboratories. As an original equipment manufacturer, Tecan is also a leader in developing and manufacturing OEM instruments and components that are then distributed by partner companies. Founded in Switzerland in 1980, the company has manufacturing, research and development sites in both Europe and North America and maintains a sales and service network in 52 countries.

In 2008, Tecan generated sales of CHF 396 million (USD 366.7 million; EUR 250.7 million). Registered shares of Tecan Group are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (TK: TECN/Reuters: TECZn.S/ ISIN CH0012100191).

About Enigma Diagnostics Limited

Enigma Diagnostics Limited specialises in developing next generation rapid molecular diagnostic instrument platforms for decentralized and point-of-care settings.

Enigma's innovative and proprietary technology combines the speed and sensitivity of real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with the simplicity needed for decentralized and point-of-care testing providing results from a raw sample in less than 60 minutes. The Company is targeting a number of multi-billion pound markets, core among which are the Clinical and high-value Applied Markets. Enigma's commercialisation strategy is to maximize revenues from a continuous flow of market leading rapid diagnostic point-of-care instrument and assay platforms, based on unique technologies and underpinned by its broad Intellectual Property portfolio. Enigma will partner with market leaders where global penetration of markets is required and where appropriate, will engage regional partners and build in-house sales and marketing capability to direct distribution of its products.

For more information visit www.enigmadiagnostics.com

SOURCE Enigma Diagnostics Limited