NEW YORK – Florence, Italy-based A. Menarini Diagnostics has signed a deal to exclusively distribute PlexBio's IntelliPlex system in western Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.
The aim is to advance both companies' position in molecular diagnostics, expand into new markets, and drive future growth, the companies said in a statement. Further terms of the deal were not disclosed.
PlexBio makes the IntelliPlex diagnostic instrument and reagent kits for oncology and infectious disease testing. It recently received CE marking for a lung cancer test. The Taipei, Taiwan- and San Francisco-based firm also inked distribution deals in Italy last year with Eurclone and Eurclone Diagnostica.
"Thanks to this agreement Menarini will be able to offer a complete solution in the area of precision oncology," said Fabio Piazzalunga, the general manager of A. Menarini Diagnostics and president of Menarini Silicon Biosystems. "The IntelliPlex product line, in combination with our established CellSearch and DEPArray products for single cell isolation and characterization, will enhance our capability to provide molecular information both from liquid and solid biopsies."
Menarini noted its experience in expanding IVD markets and said it will dedicate sales, customer service, marketing, and support team staff to the commercialization of PlexBio's product line. The agreement also anticipates future branding under A. Menarini Diagnostics label and collaboration on the development of new applications for liquid biopsy.
Menarini is also the exclusive distributor of the Curetis product line, including the Unyvero system, in parts of Europe, and in March of this year Curetis and Menarini had entered a 90-day period of exclusive negotiations related to oncology testing in certain key territories — including Europe, the Middle East — specifically regarding a license to Curetis' Unyvero A30 RQ Platform, a mid-plex system currently in development.