Microbix Biosystems (TSX:MBX) has signed a distribution agreement with Meridian Life Science, a wholly owned unit of Meridian Bioscience (NASDAQ:VIVO), a fully integrated global diagnostic and life sciences company.
Under the accord, Meridian will receive exclusive distribution rights to Microbix’ branded antigen products for China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau.
In addition, Microbix will provide bulk-finished product to Meridian to be sold under Meridian-label to customers in the Asia Pacific region, including China, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Pakistan. Both companies will explore additional collaboration opportunities in the future.
The relationship will enable Microbix to leverage its expanding manufacturing capacity and Meridian’s substantial commercial presence to better serve the region’s diagnostic customers.
The distribution collaboration is expected to significantly expand the business relationship between the two companies, and serve as a platform for the continued growth and expansion of their respective products and services.
“Meridian is a world-class life science company that shares our dedication to innovation, performance and quality, and is the ideal partner to help us extend our reach in diagnostics,” Microbix CEO, Vaughn Embro-Pantalony, said in a statement.
“Microbix is well positioned to enter into this unique arrangement thanks to our new state-of-the-art bioreactor process, which provides the necessary production capacity and cost efficiencies for a collaboration of this scope,” he added.
Richard Eberly, president and chief commercial officer of Meridian, said both companies have complementary technologies, which enable a complete offering of the widest and highest quality viral antigens for infectious diseases in the world.
