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Akers Biosciences seals US distribution agreement for heparin test
Health information technology company Akers Biosciences has entered a three-year hospital distribution agreement covering the United States.
The national distribution agreement will see Diagnostica Stago market and sell Akers' PIFA PLUSS PF4 product, a test for heparin sensitivity, across its broad existing customer base of hospital laboratories.
John Gormally, chief executive of Akers Bio, said: "Through Stago, Akers Bio will gain access to a dedicated and specialized sales team who are focused exclusively on buyers of hemostasis-related products. Akers Bio is excited about the potential for near-term US sales growth through this new, additional and specialized channel to market."
The PIFA PLUSS PF4 is designed to rapidly determine, in under one hour, whether a patient being treated with widely used blood thinner heparin may be developing a reaction known heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, which can risk the limbs and life of patients.
According to Akers, there are approximately 4m tests for HIT conducted annually in the US using slower traditional methods which the company hopes to replace with its rapid alternative.
Phillippe Barroux, North America chief executive of Stago, said: "Stago is pleased to have selected PIFA PLUSS PF4 rapid assay as its only rapid test for heparin Platelet Factor 4 antibodies in the US. Our sales team is looking forward to communicating the compelling medical and economic benefits of this uniquely efficient and accurate test for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia to Stago's customers in line with our commitment to providing market leading hemostasis solutions to improve patient care."
As of 0839 GMT, Akers Biosciences' shares were up 2.73% at 56.50p.