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news.OraSure Technologies, a developer of oral fluid diagnostics, has announced that it will begin to sell its OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 antibody test directly into the US hospital market beginning in 2009.
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In recent years, the US hospital market has received this product through an exclusive distribution arrangement with Abbott. OraSure and Abbott have previously entered into an agreement under which Abbott has distributed OraQuick Advance on an exclusive basis to US hospitals and reference laboratories and on a non-exclusive basis to the US physician office market.
Pursuant to a transition agreement recently executed by the parties, the distribution agreement will terminate effective as of the end of 2008. Abbott and OraSure will work to implement a transition of this business directly to OraSure.
In anticipation of the transition, OraSure has started to increase the size of its hospital sales force along with inside sales, customer service and sales support resources. The direct sales force will be responsible for selling OraQuick Advance to US hospital customers along with other future products, including the OraQuick hepatitis C test recently submitted to the FDA for pre-market approval. The US physician office market will continue to be served through distributors.
Douglas Michels, president and CEO of OraSure Technologies, said: “Beginning in 2009, OraSure will sell OraQuick Advance directly to the US hospital and reference laboratory markets. Our hospital business is extremely important and we anticipate continued growth in this market with both current and future products. We are eager to continue the development of even closer relationships with our hospital customers.”