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Austin, TX, and Indianapolis, Ind., October 7,
2003
Cenetron Diagnostics Announces Agreement with
Roche Diagnostics Molecular Center of Excellence
Jointly Developing a Molecular Center of Excellence
Cenetron Diagnostics, Ltd., a leading provider of molecular diagnostic
services, today announced it has signed a five-year strategic alliance
agreement with Roche Diagnostics to establish itself as a Molecular
Center of Excellence to perform routine molecular diagnostic testing,
esoteric genomic testing, and other related diagnostics services
using Roche's patented Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and other
advanced genomic technologies.
Molecular diagnostic testing serves as the core of Cenetron's diagnostic
services to clients by providing more sensitive, more specific and
faster results for optimal patient care. Cenetron also specializes
in clinical trials work to support the development efforts of leading
pharmaceutical companies worldwide. Molecular testing brings not
only the ability to diagnose specific viral and bacterial pathogens,
but also to serially monitor the quantity of pathogen within patients,
a feature which allows precise clinical decision making as well
as enhanced development support for pharmaceutical clients. Further,
molecular genetic testing will be used to provide highly accurate
predictive values when screening for disease -associated genetic
mutations. Cenetron intends to continue to leverage its experience
as a molecular reference laboratory and clinical trials partner
and combine them with Roche's expertise and support in molecular
and genomic diagnostics.
"This agreement aligns Cenetron with the world's leading diagnostic
company to become an early adopter in the coming explosion of advanced,
esoteric molecular diagnostic testing, as well as giving us the
ability to benefit from Roche's vast support resources," said
Dwight DuBois, M.D., Cenetron's President. "PCR technology
provides a highly sensitive methodology for earlier detection of
lower concentrations of target organisms in an expanding menu, including,
but not limited to HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses, and human papillomavirus
(HPV), the causative agent for virtually all women's cervical cancer.
We are very excited about working with Roche Diagnostics and the
positive impact this will have on improving patient care. This partnership
will provide Cenetron with very early access to new assays and technologies
as well as providing us with a complete package of services to ensure
that we maximize our market opportunities. As we develop our Molecular
Centers of Excellence program, we believe this business model will
further enhance our advantage of local access through superior turn-around
time, world-class pathology resources, enhanced educational capabilities,
and further advancements in the delivery of patient care information.
We also see significant advantages in the area of clinical trials
work, demonstrating to our clients our commitment to testing excellence.
We fully expect this agreement to also lead to other opportunities
with Roche."
"Matching Roche Diagnostics, the world's leading diagnostics
company, with Cenetron as a leading regional provider of molecular
diagnostics, genomics, clinical trials and other information services
is an exciting opportunity," said Martin Madaus, President
and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "Cenetron's extensive
diagnostics infrastructure is well positioned to help us shift the
paradigm from reactive testing, diagnosing, treating, and monitoring
to proactive detection. This allows for the delivery of actionable
healthcare information, possibly before the onset of disease, leading
to early intervention with treatment or a change in wellness habits."
Cenetron Diagnostics is a leading regional provider of molecular
laboratory services, including molecular methods, genomics, clinical
trials work and related information services. The Company's extensive
diagnostics infrastructure includes outreach services throughout
Texas, Florida and the Southeast. Cenetron has extensive expertise
in the development of molecular assays and related technologies.
For further information, visit www.cenetron.com.
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's
leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses
are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the
global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals
for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier
of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment
of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to
improving people's health and quality of life. Roche employs approximately
65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and research
and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority
ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Roche's Diagnostics
Division, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics with a uniquely
broad product portfolio, supplies a wide array of innovative testing
products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals
and laboratories world-wide. Roche Diagnostics' North American headquarters
are located in Indianapolis, Indiana. For further information, please
visit www.roche.com
and www.roche-diagnostics.com.
# # #
The statements contained in this press release include "forward-looking
statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements - which are sometimes
identified by words such as "may," "should,"
"believe,'' "expect,'' "anticipate,'' "estimate"
and similar expressions and which include any financial or operating
estimates, forecasts or projections - are subject to a number of
risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances
that are beyond the Company's control. These risks and uncertainties
could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated
by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include:
the extent of success of the Company's operating initiatives and
growth strategies; ability to manage growth; access to capital on
satisfactory terms; general economic conditions; terrorism or an
escalation of hostilities or war; competition and changes in competitive
factors; federal and state healthcare regulation (and compliance);
reimbursement rates under government and third party healthcare
programs and the payments received under such programs; changes
in coding; changes in technology; dependence upon pathologists and
customer contracts; the ability to attract, motivate, and retain
pathologists; labor, technology and insurance costs; marketing and
promotional efforts; the availability of pathology practices in
appropriate locations that the Company is able to acquire on suitable
terms or develop; and the successful completion and integration
of acquisitions (and achievement of planned or expected synergies).
The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as
of the date hereof based on management's current beliefs and expectations,
and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
such statements. Further information regarding risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could affect the Company's financial or operating
results or that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expected, estimated or anticipated are included in the
Company's annual, quarterly, and other reports and filings with
the SEC.
Editor's Note: This release is also available at http://www.cenetron.com
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