WALTHAM, Mass., April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thermo Fisher
Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, announced
that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for
Spectra(TM) MRSA, a test designed to screen for methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), more commonly known as the "superbug." With
the highest Positive Predictive Value commercially available for MRSA
screening, Spectra provides accurate results within 24 hours. The Spectra
MRSA test is manufactured, distributed and sold under the Thermo Fisher
specialty brand, Remel.
MRSA has become a major public health concern, with occurrences on the
rise in healthcare facilities nationwide. According to a recent report by
the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
(APIC), MRSA is prevalent in 46 of 1,000 patients in the U.S. -- 8 to 11
times higher than previous estimates. Moreover, their findings suggest that
MRSA, which is antibiotic-resistant and difficult to treat, may lead to as
many as 119,000 patient deaths in U.S. hospitals annually.
In response to these findings, APIC issued a guide for the elimination
of MRSA transmission in hospital settings. The guide includes comprehensive
prevention measures, such as adherence to Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention guidelines for hand hygiene, use of contact precautions and
targeted screening cultures.
"The need for more aggressive prevention measures to stop the spread of
MRSA means that healthcare facilities are looking for cost-effective ways
to test more patients, around the clock," said Marijn E. Dekkers, president
and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Spectra MRSA
offers healthcare facilities a high-performance solution that integrates
with routine laboratory workflows, enabling them to take a more proactive
approach to patient care and safety."
Spectra MRSA is a ready-to-use, labor-saving test easily adopted in any
healthcare facility to enable continuous testing of patients. The test
medium is easy to read, with MRSA appearing as distinctive dark blue
colonies. Its use can help to simplify MRSA screening programs, allowing
patient testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To learn more about Spectra MRSA, visit http://www.remel.com/mrsa. Remel is
part of Thermo Fisher Scientific.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in
serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier,
cleaner and safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than
30,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and
biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities,
research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and
industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier
brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical
challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo
Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical
instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services,
consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow
solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory
equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific
research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient
purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies
to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers
and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit
http://www.thermofisher.com.
The following constitutes a "SafeHarbor" statement under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set
forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007, under the caption "Risk Factors," which is on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available in the
"Investors" section of our Website under the heading "SEC Filings." We also
may make forward-looking statements about the benefits of the merger of
Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific, including statements about future
financial and operating results, the new company's plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical
facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include risks
and uncertainties relating to: the risk that the businesses will not be
integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other
synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer
to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more
difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers;
competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships
and revenues; the need to develop new products and adapt to significant
technological change; implementation of strategies for improving internal
growth; use and protection of intellectual property; dependence on
customers' capital spending policies and government funding policies;
realization of potential future savings from new productivity initiatives;
general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; the effect
of changes in governmental regulations; the effect of exchange rate
fluctuations on international operations; the effect of laws and
regulations governing government contracts; the effect of competing with
certain of our customers and suppliers; and the effect of rapid changes in
the healthcare industry. While we may elect to update forward-looking
statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any
obligation to do so, even if our estimates change and, therefore, you
should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our
views as of any date subsequent to today.
Media Contact Information:
Lori Gorski
Phone: 781-622-1242
E-mail: lori.gorski@thermofisher.com
Investor Contact Information:
Ken Apicerno
Phone: 781-622-1111
E-mail: ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com
Website: http://www.thermofisher.com
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.thermofisher.com
http://www.remel.com/mrsa
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/877850.html /
CONTACT:
Media, Lori Gorski, +1-781-622-1242,
lori.gorski@thermofisher.com, or Investors, Ken Apicerno,
+1-781-622-1111, ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com, both of Thermo
Fisher Scientific Inc.
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