Changes in the diagnostics business of Biohit
Biohit Oyj has decided to withdraw from its plans to spin off the diagnostics business until further notice. The company seeks to increase operational efficiency by merging the management of diagnostics and liquid handling sales and marketing.
In the future, Jukka-Pekka Haapalahti, MSc (biochem), who was appointed Director of Liquid Handling Sales and Marketing in May 2010, will be responsible for both areas. Mr Haapalahti has vast experience also from the diagnostics field; prior to joining Biohit he worked for Roche Diagnostics GmbH in sales and marketing senior management positions.
Yrjö E K Wichmann, who has been heading the diagnostics business of Biohit, will leave his current position on 31 December 2010 by mutual agreement with the Board and the CEO.
Jussi Heiniö
President and CEO
Biohit Oyj
Further information:
Jussi Heiniö, President and CEO
Tel: +358 (0) 9 773 861
jussi.heinio@biohit.com
Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy
Central storage facility (www.oam.fi)
Press
www.biohit.com
About Biohit Oyj:
Biohit Oyj is a globally operating Finnish biotechnology company that was established in 1988. The company’s mission is to improve human health and quality of life. The company follows a goal-directed and long-term innovation and patenting strategy.
Biohit works with scientific communities to produce new technologies, products and services based on research results and innovations that can be used to develop safe and cost-effective liquid handling solutions for laboratory work as well as diagnostic tests for the early detection and prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Biohit has two business segments: liquid handling and diagnostics. Liquid handling products include electronic and mechanical pipettes, disposable tips as well as pipette maintenance and calibration services for research institutions, healthcare and industrial laboratories.
The diagnostics business comprises products and analysis systems for the early diagnosis and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases, such as the blood-sample based GastroPanel examinations for the diagnosis of stomach illnesses and associated risks, quick tests for the diagnosis of lactose intolerance and H. pylori infection in connection with gastroscopy, and the ColonView examination for the early detection of intestinal bleeding that indicates a risk of colorectal cancer. Acetium reduces the amount of carcinogenic acetaldehyde in an anacidic stomach.
The Biohit Group employs around 400 people. The company is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, and has subsidiaries in France, Germany, the UK, Russia, India, China, Japan and the USA. The company also has a representative office in Singapore. Biohit's products are also sold through about 200 distributors in 70 countries.
Since 1999, Biohit's Series B share has been quoted on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki in the Small cap/Healthcare group and is traded under the code BIOBV.
Read more at www.biohit.com