SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocircuits Corporation
(Nasdaq: BIOC) today announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food &
Drug Administration ("FDA") to market its Quantitative hCG Assay.  The
Quantitative hCG Assay will be offered with the Company's IOS(TM)
immunodiagnostic system to allow testing in physicians' offices and other
points of patient care.
    Of the nearly 4.3 million Quantitative hCG assays ordered annually in the
United States by office-based physicians, nearly 3.6 million are sent to
facilities outside physicians' offices.
    "The Quantitative hCG assay expands further the testing capabilities of
our IOS system," said John Kaiser, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Biocircuits.  "The assay is designed to allow physicians to track the progress
of early pregnancies.  We plan to launch the assay on the second generation
cartridge by late first quarter 1997 or early second quarter 1997.
    "The Company has now received FDA clearances on five tests during the last
year, thus showing the power and versatility of the IOS system technology,"
continued John Kaiser.  "With these tests and the three tests currently in
development, we believe we are well positioned to address the physicians'
office immunodiagnostic market."
    In March 1996, Biocircuits began selling its IOS immunodiagnostic system
and initial tests in the United States.  The IOS system incorporates a
low-cost, compact instrument and patented, disposable test cartridges and is
the first cost-effective, easy-to-use immunodiagnostic system available for
use in physicians' offices and other point-of-care sites.  The initial tests
for IOS were a combined T4 and T Uptake assay to assess thyroid function.  In
September 1996, the Company announced the FDA clearance to market a serum
pregnancy assay, a test designed to allow physicians to perform this common
pregnancy test in their offices during the patient visit.  This enables the
physician to provide more immediate, pre-natal care to patients.  In November
1996, the Company announced the FDA clearance to market its Thyroid
Stimulating Hormone ("TSH") assay, its third thyroid function assay.  The
second generation cartridge, which the Company expects to be available this
month, will be required for the market launch of all new assays.  In addition,
existing assays will be converted to the new cartridge in the near future.
    Biocircuits is currently developing three additional assays: a PSA test
for management of prostrate cancer patients, a Digoxin test for monitoring the
therapeutic usage of this drug in the treatment of heart disease and a Free T4
test for diagnosing true clinical thyroid status.  The Company plans to
continue to develop additional immunodiagnostic assays commonly requested by
office-based physicians.
    Biocircuits is targeting the approximately 41,000 small to medium-sized
physician office practices and free-standing alternate site laboratories which
are licensed under CLIA for high or moderate complexity testing.  Most of
these sites do not currently have an immunodiagnostic testing capability.  The
IOS system is approved for moderately complex testing.
    Biocircuits Corporation, based in Sunnyvale, California, is focused on the
development and commercialization of innovative and cost-effective
immunodiagnostic products.
    Actual results may differ materially from the above forward-looking
statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon
the Company's ability, directly or through third parties, to successfully
manufacture and market its existing products, as well as the timely
development and regulatory approval of additional products.  These factors are
more fully discussed in the Company's most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q and the
Company's Resale Registration Statement No. 333-13673.

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