Simple and cost-efficient molecular products make their way to India
Charlottesville, VA, August 2, 2012 - Phthisis Diagnostics, Inc. has announced the signing of a distribution agreement for international sales in India, its first in the Asian market. The contract follows the company’s first international distribution agreement announced in May for sales throughout Latin America.
Genetix Biotech Asia, Ltd., located in New Delhi, is a leader in India’s life science market with over 30 distributors across India and in South East Asia. The company represents world leading companies that supply molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, immunology, and cell culture laboratories.
Genetix will handle the entire Phthisis Diagnostics product line, including those items being introduced to the market now and those in development. Phthisis currently offers the E-Sphere® Simple NA Kit for easily and quickly extracting nucleic acids from various types of samples. Future products will include molecular diagnostics for parasites and fungi, as well as molecular standards for improved laboratory quality control.
Phthisis Diagnostics President and Chief Science Officer Crystal Icenhour, PhD, commented, “We are excited to extend our marketing into Asia with this agreement and are looking forward to continuing to expand our distribution network.”
About Phthisis Diagnostics
Phthisis (TYE-sis) Diagnostics is a rapidly growing biotechnology company developing the Simply Molecular® product line, innovative molecular products designed for speed, accuracy, and ease of use. The Simply Molecular® catalogue offers solutions for nucleic acid extraction, molecular diagnostics, and laboratory quality control.
Phthisis Diagnostics develops enzyme-based extraction kits for rapid sample preparation prior to PCR applications in laboratories. This optimized workflow minimizes procedural steps, sample transfers, and potential for error.
Phthisis Diagnostics is also developing molecular diagnostic assays using PCR technology to detect intestinal pathogens associated with diarrheal disease, including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Microsporidia, and others. For more information, visit www.phthisisdiagnostics.com. Recently, Phthisis announced its second round of angel funding and earlier in the spring signed its first distribution agreement for international sales. Bio Products, Inc. will distribute the company’s product line in Latin America.
About Crystal Icenhour, PhD
In 2006, Crystal Icenhour, PhD, became President and Chief Science Officer for Phthisis Diagnostics, based in Charlottesville, VA. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at Duke University Medical Center’s Division of Infectious Diseases in their Department of Medicine. She has been recognized for both her business leadership and her scientific capabilities and has expressed her goal to “bridge the translational gap between these two worlds.” In March, Dr. Icenhour’s success as an entrepreneur combining business and science was recognized when she was named the 2012 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Outstanding Postdoctoral Entrepreneur by the Foundation and the National Postdoctoral Association. Recently, she was featured as one of “40 Medtech Innovators Under 40” by industry publication MD+DI Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry News Products and Suppliers.
Dr. Icenhour holds seven patents, has authored and co-authored numerous research articles and theses, and has been a prolific speaker and presenter at scientific conferences. She has served on review panels for the National Science Foundation and Environmental Protection Agency Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. Currently, she serves on the board of the Virginia Biotechnology Association. She is a member of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council, Sigma XI, Medical Mycology Society of the Americas, National Postdoctoral Association, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Association for Molecular Pathology.
About Molecular Diagnostics
Molecular diagnostics is defined as the use of DNA, RNA and proteins to test for specific states of health or disease. Molecular diagnostic methods have been increasingly used over the past ten years to improve the sensitivity and speed of diagnosis in infectious diseases. Although their routine use has been primarily limited to the detection of pathogens that are difficult to culture in vitro, “real-time” methods, commercial kits, quantification, and automation will increase their use. Molecular diagnostic methods are now widely used for epidemiological fingerprinting of isolates of public health importance and increasingly being used by clinical laboratories to diagnose genetic and infectious disease.
CONTACT: Dory Hulse, Media Relations
434-964-1037 or 434-242-1333 (cell)
[email protected]