Siemens Healthineers, Munich, Germany, has signed an agreement to acquire Fast Track Diagnostics, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg (FTD), a global supplier of diagnostic tests that can distinguish among viral, bacterial, or other infections in one test. By introducing FTD products to its molecular diagnostics portfolio, Siemens Healthineers looks to invest further in precision medicine and better patient experiences through solutions that eliminate the need for repeat diagnostic testing, reducing the time needed to obtain test results and improving patient outcomes.
The acquisition of FTD increases the menu of the Siemens Healthineers Versant kinetic polymerase chain reaction molecular system by more than 80 assays and syndromic panels. In addition, FTD’s platform-agnostic menu allows Siemens Healthineers to serve a broader customer base.
Fernando Beils, Siemens Healthineers.
“By integrating the high-quality and cost-effective solutions of FTD into our own cutting-edge molecular diagnostics portfolio, Siemens Healthineers continues to strengthen and expand its presence in the field of molecular testing and precision medicine,” says Fernando Beils, head of molecular diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers.
FTD’s tests are real-time PCR kits, allowing for both singleplex and syndromic testing. The tests target such conditions as early childhood diseases, gastroenteritis, hepatitis, infections of the immunosuppressed, meningitis, respiratory infections, sexually transmitted diseases, and tropical diseases, and can detect more than 140 bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. By consolidating testing for the infectious disease spectrum into a single molecular ecosystem and virtually open platform, Siemens Healthineers seeks to ensure high performance from extraction through detection, as well as increased workflow efficiency for molecular labs of all sizes.
“Combining FTD’s wide range of assays with the Siemens Healthineers portfolio means great things for all of our customers globally,” says Bill Carman, CEO of Fast Track Diagnostics. “In merging our efforts, we’re enabling healthcare providers to meet their current challenges and deliver better outcomes for patients.”
“In addressing the evolving needs of our customers and the molecular testing market, we enable them to provide more efficient and more effective care for their patients,” says David Stein, PhD, head of strategy and innovation at Siemens Healthineers. “This exciting step forward, alongside our newest team members from FTD, is the latest example of our ongoing commitment to our molecular diagnostics customers and their patients.”
Through the acquisition, Siemens Healthineers will now include FTD’s sites in Luxembourg, Malta, and India, as well as its workforce of about 80 employees. FTD will continue to operate under the brand name Fast Track Diagnostics throughout the world.
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