Siemens Healthineers Acquires Fast Track Diagnostics

By HospiMedica International staff writers

[18 Dec 2017]
Image: Siemens Healthineers has entered into an agreement to acquire Fast Track Diagnostics (Photo courtesy of iStock).
Siemens Healthineers (Erlangen, Germany) has entered into an agreement to acquire Fast Track Diagnostics (Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg), which supplies diagnostics tests that can distinguish between viral, bacterial, or other infections in one test.

Siemens Healthineers, the separately managed healthcare business of Siemens AG (Munich, Germany), offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services in its core areas of diagnostic and therapeutic imaging and in laboratory diagnostics and molecular medicine. Fast Track Diagnostics’ tests are real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) kits, allowing for both singleplex and syndromic testing. The tests target conditions such as respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, meningitis, hepatitis, infections of the immunosuppressed, tropical diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, and early childhood diseases, and can detect over 140 viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi.

The acquisition of Fast Track Diagnostics expands the menu of Siemens Healthineers’ VERSANT kPCR Molecular System by over 80 assays and syndromic panels to offer its customers a comprehensive solution for molecular testing of infectious diseases. By consolidating testing for the infectious disease spectrum into a single molecular ecosystem and virtually open platform, Siemens Healthineers ensures leading-edge performance from extraction through detection, as well as increased workflow efficiency for molecular labs of all sizes. With the introduction of Fast Track Diagnostics’ products to its molecular diagnostics portfolio, Siemens Healthineers is further investing in precision medicine and better patient experience through solutions that eliminate the need for repeat diagnostic testing, reducing time and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, Fast Track Diagnostics’ platform-agnostic menu will allow Siemens Healthineers to effectively serve a broader customer base.

“By integrating the high-quality and cost-effective solutions of Fast Track Diagnostics into our own cutting-edge molecular diagnostics portfolio, Siemens Healthineers continues to strengthen and expand its presence in the field of molecular testing and precision medicine,” said Fernando Beils, Head of Molecular Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers. “We are excited to introduce both Fast Track Diagnostics’ products and world-class team to the Siemens Healthineers family.”

“Combining FTD’s wide range of assays with the Siemens Healthineers portfolio means great things for all of our customers globally,” said Bill Carman, CEO of Fast Track Diagnostics. “In merging our efforts, we’re enabling healthcare providers to meet their current challenges and deliver better outcomes for patients.”

“In addressing the evolving needs of our customers and the molecular testing market, we enable them to provide more efficient and more effective care for their patients,” added Dr. David Stein, Head of Strategy & Innovation, Siemens Healthineers. “This exciting step forward, alongside our newest team members from Fast Track Diagnostics, is the latest example of our ongoing commitment to our molecular diagnostics customers and their patients.”