The Tecan Group (Tecan), a provider of laboratory instruments and solutions, and Enigma Diagnostics, specializing in rapid molecular diagnostic instrument platforms for decentralized and point-of-care settings, have signed a manufacturing and supply agreement for Enigma's point-of-care molecular diagnostics instruments.
As per the agreement, Tecan will industrialise and deliver 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 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 clinical trials and regulatory approval. Enigma expects to add additional tests for other areas such as infectious disease management to the ML system test menu in the future.
The Enigma ML instrument is said to deliver fully-automated results from swab samples in less than 60 minutes at the point of care.
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.”