jpbrody, thanks for that extensive post.
If Roche buyout the license for central labs, then they would own it for that purpose, an exclusive license.
Total immunoassay testing is over 6 billion. I don't know what proportion of that is POC, but it is very small. However, there haven't been adequate instruments to run these tests till very recently. Glucose monitering is beginning to move to hospital floors, and is successful. Electrolyte monitering (i-stat) is not as useful and is too expensive. Immunoassays can be vital is some circumstances, and the faster, the better. There is a lot of interest in POC for MI markers.
The margin for central labs is relatively small compared to the other areas. I think the POC, HTP, food and water testing, industrial,vet, etc are together much bigger than the Roche license. |
