On November 12, Meridian Bioscience (Cincinnati) announced record fourth quarter and full-year results for its 2008 fiscal year, which ended September 30. Fueling the 14 percent increase in annual sales was strong growth in Meridian’s diagnostics business, which is focused on tests for respiratory, gastrointestinal, viral, and parasitic infectious diseases. Sales for fiscal 2008 were $139.6 million, up 14 percent from $123 million in fiscal 2007. Diagnostic sales in the United States and Europe accounted for 83 percent of sales and were up 18 percent over 2007 levels.

Looking to 2009, Meridian CEO John A. Kraeutler predicts continued double-digit growth in the company’s core diagnostic categories as it works to improve global distribution and boost its life science business. In January, Meridian plans to enter clinical trials for a novel molecular testing platform based upon loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The first test to use the technology will be for the toxin-producing forms of C. difficile bacteria. "Over the next five years we will aggressively expand the menu of this new molecular testing platform," added Kraeutler.

December 2008 - Table of Contents

DTTR December 2008 (full PDF issue)

Meridian Sees Double-Digit Growth in Diagnostics

Myriad Genetics Will Split Molecular Diagnostics, Pharma

Osmetech Begins Trials for Extended Warfarin Sensitivity Test

Invitrogen, Applied Biosystems Progress Toward Merger

Ikonisys Gets FDA Clearance for HER-2 Breast Cancer Test

ACLA Panel Sees Future of Genetic Testing in Multiplex, Microrray Analysis

LabCorp Discontinues OvaSure Testing After FDA Warning

Medicare Physician Fees Will Rise in 2009

Inside the Diagnostics Industry: As Rising Costs Threaten Future of Cancer Care, OncotypeDX Found to Influence Treatment Decisions

Sequenom’s Down Syndrome Test Enters Study

Protein-Based Blood Test Could Predict Impending Heart Attack

Risk of Esophageal Cancer Tied to Gene Variants

Study Finds Oral Fluid Drug Test Results Comparable to Urine Testing

Tumor Database to Combine Microscopy, Microarray Information

New CLIAC Guidance Will Tackle Molecular Testing

Paternity Testing Leader DNA Diagnostics Center Acquired by MTS Health Investors

LabCorp to Help Launch Reference Lab in Abu Dhabi

CMS Finalizes Anti-Markup Rules for Diagnostic Testing

IVD Stocks Fall 14%; Affymetrix Plummets 45%

A Blood Test to Predict Obesity?