DIAsource Immunoassays to assume production and sales of ZenTech RIA product portfolio
ZenTech has signed a strategic agreement to transfer its portfolio of radioimmunoassays (RIA) to DIAsource ImmunoAssays, a BioVendor group company.
ZenTech, a Belgian biotech company specialized in the development, production and commercialization of solutions for clinical diagnostics of early life stage diseases and newborn screening, and DIAsource ImmunoAssays, a leading diagnostics company delivering manual RIA and ELISA kits and open automation solutions to international markets, today announced a strategic agreement, under which ZenTech will transfer its portfolio of RIA products to DIAsource, securing the continued production and sales of these products.
ZenTech has strategically reoriented itself to focus on newborn screening and early life stage diseases. DIAsource is the second largest supplier of radioimmunoassays in the world, committed to servicing customers worldwide that use manual ELISA and RIA assays and open automation to complement their portfolio on closed automated systems.
Both Belgian companies have long standing collaborations for more than 15 years, whereby DIAsource already managed part of the commercialization of the Zentech portfolio successfully. The current transfer of the RIA products from Zentech to DIAsource is a logical next step in line with the strategies of both companies. The portfolio to be transferred includes the complete line of specialty radioimmunoassays with thyroid markers and markers for fertility and salt balance.
In order to support a smooth transition with minimal disruption for customers, the companies have agreed to a transition period. Effective today 24th of July 2018 DIAsource Immunoassays assumes commercial ownership of the RIA product portfolio and will service clients from order to shipment, whereby ZenTech remains the manufacturer during the transition period in which the production will be transferred to DIAsource. The latter will be done in close collaboration and in phases and concluded by 30 September 2019.
Jean-Claude Havaux, Chaiman of the Board, ZenTech, said: “Historically, ZenTech had a background and expertise in radioimmunoassays. However, when ZenTech acquired the Belgian company Gamma in 2011, it got access to new technologies and entered the market of newborn screening and early life stage diseases. Today’s acquisition of the RIA products by ZenTech’s commercial partner DIAsource will guarantee RIA customers are offered long term service and excellence in logistics worldwide. This transaction will give ZenTech the opportunity to focus on new innovative product lines and other technologies such as molecular diagnostics and mass spectrometry. ZenTech strives to "make innovation affordable for most" within a worldwide strategy.”
Jef Vangenechten, CEO of DIAsource Immunoassays, said: "This acquisition is yet another step in our strategy to position DIAsource as a consolidator of manual specialty assays, after previous acquisitions of the Intertech RIA product line in 2012 and Viro-Immun ELISA and IFA product lines in 2017. DIAsource also acquired the RIA client businesses from distribution partners in France and Spain in 2015 and 2016. This fourth acquisition in the RIA space demonstrates our commitment to the long term future servicing and support of our large RIA customer base worldwide
We experience that RIA remains important as the gold standard for assays that are not available on automated systems or for parameters that require a higher analytical accuracy, whereby manual assays offer benefits in terms of quality and flexibility versus price.
DIAsource now has a unique position by combining the most complete offering of RIA specialty assays on the market with the ability to offer various RIA automation solutions. Furthermore our manual assays also allow customization for life science research and screening."
