FUJIFILM and GE Healthcare form Strategic Alliance in Life Sciences
FUJIFILM and GE Healthcare form Strategic Alliance in Life Sciences
FUJIFILM Corporation announces that it has entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement with GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Under the alliance, Fujifilm will develop, manufacture and supply advanced biomolecular imaging systems to GE Healthcare. The products will be sold worldwide under the GE brand in the life science research and drug discovery markets.
Life science research has advanced rapidly in recent years with the advent of tools for genomic and protein research such as biomolecular labeling, detection and analysis. These technologies have helped reveal the functions of proteins, thereby contributing to scientists? understanding of disease processes. The use of life science instrumentation and reagents in bioscience research is growing, and the demand for new and innovative enabling technologies is expanding.
In 1987, Fujifilm was the first company to introduce the revolutionary digital autoradiography device which utilized the Imaging Plate, a radiation detector with sensitivity 100 times greater than X-ray film. Since then, Fujifilm has utilized its chemical and optical technologies cultivated in the field of photo imaging to launch a broad range of instruments including innovative CCD camera systems, contributing to the advancement of imaging in genomic and protein research.
In 1923, GE Healthcare introduced the first radio isotope reagents, which initiated the field of biomolecular labeling and detection. Since then, GE Healthcare has introduced a series of non-radioactive detection reagents, such as ECL and CyDyes, to enable safe and quantitative biomolecular labeling, detection and analysis. The company?s system solutions have radically improved the way scientists can analyze gene and protein expression in tissues and cells.
„This deal represents an important progression for our business,´´ stated Yuzo Toda, Director, Corporate Vice President, General Manager of Life Science Products Division, Fujifilm. „By forming the alliance, both companies will make the most of our complementary capabilities to continue to contribute to the advancement of genomic and protein research, and to help enhance the quality of life of people worldwide. GE Healthcare?s global presence as a supplier of reagents and instruments, and its competence in biological applications within the life science field combined with Fujifilm?s leading imaging technologies, R D and manufacturing capabilities will provide our customers with comprehensive system solutions for research, drug discovery and bioanalytical applications.´´
„We are delighted to work with Fujifilm to expand our support to bioscience research in biomolecular imaging system solutions,´´ said Nigel Darby, General Manager of Biotechnologies, Life Sciences, GE Healthcare. „Fujifilm?s high quality technology platforms fit well with our proprietary labeling technologies and the adjacent fields in the imaging workflow that GE Healthcare currently addresses. Furthermore, the integration of the imaging platform with our global service organization will give strong and valuable customer support.´´
Overview of the alliance:
1) Fujifilm will supply image analyzing systems for bioscience research to GE Healthcare, and GE Healthcare will market and sell them under the GE brand.
2) GE Healthcare will be responsible for marketing/sales of the systems worldwide, and will provide total solutions including instruments, ECL and DIGE labeling reagents, and applications support. Additionally, GE Healthcare will provide instrument services for the systems.
3) Fujifilm and GE Healthcare will collaborate to develop image analyzing systems that are optimized for customer applications.
About FUJIFILM Corporation
FUJIFILM Corporation is one of the major operating companies of FUJIFILM Holdings. Since its founding in 1934, the company has built up a wealth of advanced technologies in the field of photo imaging, and in line with its efforts to become a comprehensive healthcare company, Fujifilm is now applying these technologies to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the Medical and Life Science fields. Fujifilm is also expanding growth in the highly functional materials business, including flat panel display materials, and in the graphic systems and optical devices businesses.
Fujifilm?s corporate philosophy is: We will use leading-edge, proprietary technologies to provide top-quality products and services that contribute to the advancement of culture, science, technology and industry, as well as improved health and environmental protection in society. Our overarching aim is to help enhance the quality of life of people worldwide. Through its corporate philosophy, Fujifilm demonstrates its commitment to making a significant contribution to society. For more information, please visit http://www.fujifilm.com.
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.
Our „healthymagination´´ vision for the future invites the world to join us on our journey as we continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality and efficiency around the world. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit our website at www.gehealthcare.com .
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