Bayer Diagnostics Licenses Axeda DRM Software for Proactive Remote Service of Clinical Laboratory Instruments
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TARRYTOWN, NY and MANSFIELD, MA — The Diagnostics Division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the Bayer Group (NYSE: BAY) and Axeda Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: XEDA), a leading provider of device relationship management (DRM) enterprise software and services, announced today that Bayer Diagnostics has licensed the Axeda’s DRM(TM) system to enable proactive, remote servicing of its ADVIA Centaur® Immunoassay System and other laboratory instruments.
“By being able to offer customers proactive, remote service, we strive to reduce unnecessary time spent by the lab technician troubleshooting products,” said Thomas Warekois, Vice President Marketing, Laboratory Testing Segment of Bayer Diagnostics.
“With the addition of the Axeda DRM(TM) solution, the ADVIA Centaur System will provide proactive customer service and remote support capabilities, helping to extend its lead as one of the most productive and efficient immunochemistry platforms in the marketplace today.”
“We are very pleased that Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics has selected Axeda for their remote service operations. Axeda DRM(TM) is rapidly gaining recognition as the most effective solution for remotely managing devices and reducing the high costs of downtime,” said Robert M. Russell Jr., chairman and CEO of Axeda Systems. “Our field-proven products and demonstrated experience are making Axeda the solution of choice with leading medical instrument manufacturers worldwide.”
The Axeda DRM(TM) system lets instrument manufacturers to monitor, manage, and service intelligent devices deployed at remote customer sites anywhere in the world — cost effectively and in real time. The Axeda DRM(TM) system allows the secure transmission of instrument data via the Internet from remote equipment to service representatives, alerting them if a device is operating outside preset performance standards. Unlike telephone-based systems, Axeda DRM(TM) leverages patent-pending Firewall-Friendly(TM) communications technology and existing network security within medical facilities. These and other features enable system compliance with regulations protecting patient information such as 21 CFR Part 11 and HIPAA.
Axeda DRM(TM) helps minimize support calls and time on the phone, reduces the number of costly, unscheduled, or unnecessary service visits, and increases device uptime to further enhance customer productivity and satisfaction. Axeda DRM(TM) also enables new, high-value managed-service offerings such as automated consumable replenishment, system software upgrades, and pay-for-use billing approaches such as cost-per-reportable programs.
The ADVIA Centaur system was rated one of the most productive and efficient immunochemistry platforms in the marketplace today by an independent U.S. customer survey. It provides testing for a broad range of conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, fertility, anemia, thyroid diseases, allergy, metabolic diseases, therapeutic drug monitoring, congenital and infectious diseases. Bayer plans to make the Axeda DRM available on the ADVIA Centaur system during 2004.
About Device Relationship Management
Everyday intelligent devices such as copiers, elevators, vending machines, building control units, medical devices, computers and storage systems, and industrial machines are an important new source of business information. Device relationship management systems allow companies to tap into this valuable information anytime anywhere. Pioneered by Axeda, device relationship management technology provides a distributed information management system that leverages the Internet to allow timely, accurate, and unbiased information to be communicated automatically between intelligent devices, wherever they are deployed around the world, and service personnel or enterprise business systems. Device relationship management helps turn reactive businesses into proactive businesses providing new sources of revenue, increased operational efficiency, and lower costs, with an ROI that is often measured in months.
About Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics
With approximately 7,000 employees worldwide and 2002 sales of $1.9 billion, Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics (www.bayerdiag.com) based in Tarrytown, New York, is one of the largest diagnostic businesses in the world. The organization supports customers in 100 countries through an extensive portfolio of central, self-testing, nucleic acid and near patient care diagnostics meters and services for use in the assessment and management of health, including the areas of cardiovascular and kidney disease, oncology, virology, women’s health and diabetes. Bayer HealthCare Diagnostics’ global headquarters in the United States operates as part of Bayer HealthCare LLC, a member of the worldwide Bayer HealthCare group.
About Bayer HealthCare
Bayer HealthCare AG, a subgroup of Bayer AG with sales of approximately 9.4 billion Euro in 2002, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry.
The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. More than 34,000 people are employed by Bayer HealthCare worldwide.
Our aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Our products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease.
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
About Axeda®
Axeda Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: XEDA) is the leading provider of device relationship management (DRM) enterprise software and services. Axeda helps businesses become more competitive by using the Internet to extract real-time information hidden in their intelligent devices. The company’s flagship product, the Axeda Device Relationship Management System(TM), is a distributed software solution that lets businesses remotely monitor, manage, and service intelligent devices, deployed around the world, allowing them to optimize their service, development, sales, and manufacturing operations. Axeda customers include Global 2000 companies in many markets, including the Medical Instrumentation, Enterprise Technology, Industrial and Building Automation, Office Automation, and Semiconductor Equipment industries. Axeda has sales and service offices in the U.S, Europe and Japan, and distribution partners worldwide. More information about Axeda is available at www.axeda.com.
© 2004 Axeda Systems. All rights reserved. Axeda Systems, Axeda DRM, Axeda Device Relationship Management System, Axeda Agents, Axeda Applications, Axeda Policy Manager, Axeda Enterprise, Axeda Access, Axeda Software Management, Axeda Service, Axeda Usage, Automatic eCommerce, Firewall-Friendly, and Access. Insight. In Real Time. are trademarks of Axeda Systems. All other trademarks are either property of Axeda Systems or property of their respective owners.
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that relate to Axeda’s future performance. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding Axeda’s products and markets, and may include implied statements concerning market acceptance of Axeda’s products and its growing leadership role in the DRM market. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual events or future results to differ from those discussed herein. Such factors include, among others: Axeda’s customers’ ability to implement or integrate Axeda’s DRM solutions successfully and in a timely fashion or achieve benefits attributable to Axeda’s DRM solutions; uncertainties in the market for DRM products and the potential for growth in the DRM market; the long sales cycle for DRM products; limited distribution channels; the difficulty of protecting proprietary rights; present and future competition; and Axeda’s ability to manage technological change and respond to evolving industry standards. Investors are advised to read Axeda’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled “Factors Affecting Operating Results” and “Risk Factors” for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. Axeda assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
