ALTANA divests parts of its diagnostics business
ALTANA Pharma AG, Constance, is to sell substantial parts of its in-vitro diagnostics business to its alliance partner, DiaSorin S.r.l. of Sallugia in Italy. The sale will go ahead with effect from December 31 subject to approval by the appropriate cartel authorities.
"This sale is consistent with our strategy of concentrating on our core business with prescription drugs, a business which already generates over 80% of ALTANA Pharma AG's sales", explained Dr. Hans-Joachim Lohrisch, member of ALTANA's Management Board and CEO of ALTANA Pharma AG. "Merging our diagnostics operations with the activities already managed by our successful partner, DiaSorin, will improve the future prospects of this business."
Diagnostics is not one of ALTANA Pharma's core businesses. In 2001, this segment achieved sales revenues of EUR43 million, which is equivalent to 3% of the total sales - around EUR1.6 billion - generated by ALTANA Pharma in 2001. The Diagnostics business includes reagents and analytical apparatus for diagnosing hormonal imbalances as well as autoimmune diseases and tumors.
Under the contractual agreements, Byk Sangtec Diagnostica GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Byk & Diasorin Diagnostics GmbH (Germany), Byk Diagnostica S.r.l. (Italy) and Sangtec Medical AB (Sweden) with a total of around 200 employees will transfer to DiaSorin. Sangtec Molecular Diagnostics AB (Sweden) and Cambridge Life Science (United Kingdom) will remain with ALTANA Pharma AG. These companies work with technologies which may be of importance in connection with pharmaceutical research.
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