Quidel and Roche Pharma tackle flu in Germany
Two leading providers of diagnostics tests have teamed up to help address the forthcoming German 2007/2008 flu season.
Two leading providers of diagnostics tests have teamed up to help address the forthcoming German 2007/2008 flu season.
Rapid point-of-care (POC) company Quidel Corporation has forged an exclusive partnership to provide Switzerland-based Roche Pharma with the QuickVue Influenza A+B rapid diagnostic test along with its Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) antiviral.
The move is aimed at helping to improve patient recovery time.
"Vaccination, diagnosis and treatment are the three mainstays of combating seasonal flu," said Caren Mason, president and chief executive officer of Quidel.
"This partnership with Roche and Quidel pairs two leading companies committed to promoting excellence in diagnostic testing and treatment for many patients in a wide range of facilities."
Dr Hagen Pfundner, managing director of Roche Germany, said: "The partnership with Quidel will aid physicians in their prompt diagnosis of influenza infection leading to better and faster decision making on adequate treatment options including Tamiflu and thus faster relief from flu symptoms."
On average, anywhere between 10-20% of a given population in Germany will get the flu resulting in ten to twenty thousand hospitalisations, costing the German healthcare system approximately Euro 5bn.