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 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 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: www.thermofisher.com
SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
