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GE Healthcare Forms Strategic Alliance with
FUJIFILM in Life Sciences - Global alliance in biomolecular imaging
Uppsala, Sweden, May 28th, 2009 - GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric
Company (NYSE: GE), announces that it has entered into a Strategic Alliance
Agreement with FUJIFILM Corporation. 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.
– ENDS –
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.
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 .
Contact
College Hill (for GE Healthcare)
Katie Odgaard, Rebecca Walker
T: +44 (0)20 7457 2020
E: ge-proteins@collegehill.com
FUJIFILM Corporation
Public Relations Division
T: +81 (0)3 6271 2000
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