Thermo Collaborates with Samsung to Develop Point-of-Care Diagnostic Solutions

Thermo Fisher Scientific announced on Nov. 24, 2014 that it would collaborate with Samsung Electronics to jointly design, develop, and market new point-of-care (POC) solutions. The collaboration will focus on the detection of sepsis, drugs of abuse and therapeutic drug monitoring, detection of cardiac problems, and women’s health conditions.

The press release states that the National Institutes of Health writes in its fact sheet that, “Empowering clinicians to make decisions at the ‘point-of-care’ has the potential to significantly impact health care delivery and to address the challenges of health disparities.”

In 2005, Thermo Scientific sold its POC business to Inverness Medical Innovations for $52.5 million, citing that the business did not fit with Thermo’s strategy. “Although the Point of Care and Rapid Diagnostics business has performed well, we do not believe it to be a strategic fit with Thermo's long term strategy for growth," said Marijn Dekkers, former president and CEO of Thermo Electron commented in a press release from the 2005 sale. Now, Thermo will join with Samsung to expand the offering of POC platforms to meet the growing industry demand. A report from 2009 states that an increase in chronic diseases and an aging population requires an increase in healthcare options that are efficient and accessible.