Tecan Group, Enigma Diagnostics sign manufacturing and supply agreement for Enigma ML instruments

The Tecan Group (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN), a leading global provider of laboratory instruments and solutions, and Enigma Diagnostics Limited, the decentralised and point-of-care molecular diagnostics company, announced today the signing of a manufacturing and supply agreement for Enigma's ML instruments. Under the agreement, Tecan will industrialize and deliver commercially 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 point-of-care 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 successful clinical trials and regulatory approval. Enigma will also add additional tests for other areas such as infectious disease management to the ML system test menu in the future.

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

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."