A Medical Device Daily

Ivax Diagnostics (Miami), through its Diamedix subsidiary, has signed an amended distribution agreement with Immco Diagnostics (Buffalo, New York).

The amended agreement provides Diamedix rights to distribute Immco's portfolio of products in the U.S. with additional strategic initiatives related to the U.S. and Canadian market to follow. The products that will be distributed by Diamedix include 60 Autoimmune ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test kits, an increase from the current 25 autoimmune test kits currently distributed by Diamedix, and 150 Immunoflourescence Assays (IFA) test kits. Most Immco test kits are FDA approved and distributed internationally under CE mark. The products will initially be marketed under the Immco name to accelerate market introduction, and beginning in 2010, will be sold under the Diamedix brand.

Charles Struby, CEO of Ivax, said, "With a focus on innovation, Immco Diagnostics manufactures diagnostic technologies that are consistently adapted to the marketplace. Immco's collaboration with a number of prominent researchers and distinguished institutions help to produce new technologies for the marketplace. We believe the combined strength of Diamedix' sales force and Immco's reputation as a premier manufacturer of test kits, will provide a strong suite of products and viable solutions for customers as Ivax strives to become their sole source of infectious disease and autoimmune in vitro diagnostic testing. This agreement alone will substantially increase the number of ELISA and IFA test kits we offer."

He continued, "Part of our goal is to introduce new analyzer instrumentation accommodating both ELISA and IFA test kits in the U.S. market. Immco's test kits will be compatible with the new instrumentation, allowing interchangeability of test formats, thereby reducing the manual effort currently involved with IFA testing. Our agreement with Immco will help to strengthen our mission to create a stronger and more competitive company by distributing test kits that meet and/or exceed patients' and their physicians' needs for accurate and efficient in vitro diagnosis."

In other agreements and contracts news:

• Epicor Software (Irvine, California), reported that HealthTronics (Austin, Texas), a provider of urological services and products, has chosen Epicor as its enterprise resource planning solution provider. HealthTronics will leverage the flexible functionality offered by Epicor, providing end-to-end support across the company's medical products and services business model.

The Epicor ERP solution automates and optimizes business operations by integrating all or a majority of the data and processes of an organization into a single, unified solution in order to maximize profitable growth.

• Versus Technology (Traverse City, Michigan) is participating in Microsoft's 2009 Worldwide Partner Conference. The Versus Real-Time Locating Solution (RTLS) will be presented, along with solutions from iLink Systems, within the newly released Windows 7 environment during the meeting. The demo will feature an automated patient visit from admission through the patient/physician interaction and discharge, in part using the Versus infrared and RFID automated patient tracking system.

• DermTech (La Jolla, California) has entered into the second part of a feasibility study using DermTech's advanced EGIR technology to help Stiefel (Coral Gables, Florida) identify specific genetic markers involved in acne. The two companies will now move forward with a proof-of-concept study to assess the use of the technology to understand the pathophysiology of acne.

• Premier Purchasing Partners (San Diego) reported that new agreements for room turnover products have been awarded to Advance Medical Designs (Marietta, Georgia), Medline Industries (Mundelein, Illinois) and Microtek Medical (Alpharetta, Georgia).

Effective Sept. 1, 2009, the agreements are available to acute care and continuum of care members of the Premier healthcare alliance.