Unilabs Announces Global Strategic Alliance in Companion Diagnostic Testing with Biogen Idec for STRATIFY- JCV

Unilabs has been selected by Biogen Idec to provide a companion diagnostic anti-JCV antibody assay test, called STRATIFY-JCV. The test is a highly sensitive two-step ELISA assay used to detect anti-JCV antibodies. The presence of anti-JCV antibodies is one in a three-factor risk stratification algorithm, along with prior immunosuppressant use and treatment duration, used to calculate the risk of TYSABRI-treated patients developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

To support customers, ordering needs and volume of samples, Unilabs and Biogen Idec have also developed a closed web interface to allow neurologists to order sampling and shipping materials, register courier sample pick up details, and request language and format of analytical reports. Also, neurologists can seek sampling, shipping and medical support in five major languages through a multilingual call centre. The project is centralised to and managed by Unilabs in Copenhagen.

Natascha Schill, Biogen Idec commented: “Unilabs is an independent commercial laboratory with a very high reputation, a strong European footprint and excellent international skills, competences and agility. We are very happy to work with Unilabs”

According to Yvonne Lech, Managing Director of Unilabs Denmark, “The experiences and the innovations created for this project can be applied in the future to create added customer value for future global Companion Diagnostic projects.”

Companion Diagnostics are expected to be the future for many new medicines. This collaboration is a clear example of this trend since it combines our distinct competencies and offers our clients a truly international high-quality service.

Unilabs - A leader in diagnostic services
Unilabs is a leading diagnostic services company. We operate more than 100 laboratories and 30 radiology units in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Our customers are both public and private. We serve: hospitals, outpatients clinics, GPs, occupational health units, insurance companies, drug development companies and CROs. We supply medical laboratory analyses and services within clinical biochemistry, haematology, transfusion medicine, microbiology, serology, immunology, special chemistry, nuclear medicine, molecular biology, genetic testing, histopathology, and clinical trials. Our radiology units supply services within conventional X-ray, mammography, MRI, CT, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, osteoporosis, nuclear medicine and teleradiology. For more information please visit www.unilabs.com .

Contact:

Unilabs a.s.:
Yvonne Lech, Managing Director
Tel: +45 23 44 12 84
email: yvonne.lech@unilabs.com