NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Premaitha Health announced last week that it has garnered new customers through its distribution network in several European countries.
In Italy, the firm won a public hospital tender to implement the first public non-invasive prenatal testing program in southern Italy. The hospital will begin to process samples using the Iona test in the second quarter of 2017. A second Italian laboratory has already begun processing small volumes of the Iona test in Rome.
In Greece, a Premaitha distributor has signed a contract to establish the Iona test in a lab in northern Greece which will act as a hub for processing samples from around Greece and the Balkans. The laboratory is expected to begin processing samples for testing with Iona by the end of Q1.
And in Turkey, Premaitha has signed on a new service lab customer, which is sending samples for processing in the company's own lab in the UK.
The company declined to name the specific labs and hospitals involved.
This week, Thermo Fisher Scientific said its pending acquisition of bioproduction systems and software developer Finesse Solutions has received early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Thermo Fisher expects to complete the acquisition shortly. Finesse will be integrated into Thermo Fisher's life sciences solutions business. Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Hologic announced this week that it has agreed to acquire medical laser company Cynosure for $66.00 per share in cash. The deal, worth a total $1.65 billion, is expected to close no later than April. Hologic CEO Steve MacMillan said in a statement that the company has identified medical aesthetics "as an attractive and complementary growth opportunity." The company said the deal will be immediately accretive on a non-GAAP basis, adding $.03 to $.05 per share in 2017 and $.13 to $.15 per share in 2018.
Genos this week received Laboratory Accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The CAP Accreditation is presented to laboratories that meet certain requirements around quality, accuracy, and consistency, and which demonstrate scientifically rigorous processes, the company said.
BC Platforms announced this week that it will join the Microsoft AI in Health Partner Alliance, a collaborative group focused on advancing health technology. BC Platforms will receive training and access to Microsoft technologies, engineering expertise, and data sets.
Courtagen Life Sciences said this week that it has launched a new division, Avantra Genetics, to provide advanced genomic information to medical practices specializing in functional disorders with symptoms such as pain, fatigue, numbness, and gastrointestinal distress that can be severe, chronic, or debilitating. These disorders are often difficult to diagnose and treat, but may have a genetic origin or influence, Courtagen said. Avantra is also launching two genomic information-only tests for migraines and abdominal pain, and is planning to launch additional tests later this year. The tests focus on genes in pathways of interest to functional medicine clinicians, and cover genes associated with disorders such as celiac disease, lactase deficiency, coenzyme Q10 deficiency, and dystonia.
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