Thermo Fisher Scientific and Siemens renew technology alliance

Thermo Fisher Scientific and Siemens have extended their long-standing strategic technology partnership with the renewal of a non-exclusive long-term royalty-bearing agreement.

The deal will ensure that Thermo Fisher's Procalcitonin (BRAHMS PCT) technology will continue to be available as an automated immunoassay on the Siemens ADVIA Centaur XP and CP systems in all territories outside the US and China.

Using Thermo Fisher's immunoassay, clinicians can take advantage of an integrated solution for accurately diagnosing sepsis and monitoring response to antibiotic therapy, allowing for improved clinical decision-making.

It is estimated that 20 to 30 million people are affected by sepsis annually, with the condition killing more people than bowel and breast cancer combined.

Marc Tremblay, president of Thermo Fisher Scientific's clinical diagnostics division, said: "The continuation of our close collaboration with Siemens significantly increases the global reach of this critical biomarker, making it available to a broader patient population."

The firm also agreed a new deal in July 2013 for the continued use of the Brahms PCT technology with the Roche Elecsys cobas e platforms.