NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Sequenom today said that it has inked a contract with sales and marketing services firm PDI to provide the sales force that will launch and commercialize the firm's SEQureDx non-invasive prenatal genetic screening tests.
PDI will work with the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine, the clinical lab subsidiary of Sequenom, in supporting commercialization of the firm's Rhesus D genotyping test, its Down syndrome test, and other laboratory-developed tests. The partners will hire, train, and develop a sales team for the SCMM.
The contract follows comments made last month by Sequenom President and CEO Harry Stylli that the firm would work with a contract sales force organization and target a sales force of 150 to 175 reps focused on the obstetrics/gynecology market in the US for its SEQureDx Down Syndrome test, which is scheduled for a June launch.
Sequenom said today that the firm plans to hire an initial wave of business development managers in the first quarter of this year followed by an expansion throughout the remainder of 2009.
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
"As we grow the market for SEQureDx tests, PDI's flexible approach allows them to be responsive to our needs with minimal advance notice, so we can most efficiently and effectively build our sales organization," Stylli said in a statement.