University news

Reactivlab, a University of Glasgow spin-out company which specialises in animal health diagnostic technology using Acute Phase Proteins* has been taken over by the Avacta Group.

Avacta provides innovative, high value technologies and services to the pharmaceutical and diagnostics markets. Through its subsidiary, Avacta Animal Health, Avacta has an established route to the veterinary market in the UK, EU and worldwide.

The strengths of Avacta’s marketing resource and expertise, professional development programmes for vets, relationships with key veterinary practices, its sales force in the UK and distribution agreements in the EU, will provide an excellent opportunity for ReactivLab to accelerate and expand the range of its innovative APP testing services and products.

Professor David Eckersall, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ReactivLab said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with Avacta and believe that the relationship will provide a significant stimulus to the commercial expansion of the APP activities in ways in which we can all benefit. It is a reflection of the know-how and expertise that we have built up over many years within the University of Glasgow’s Vet School and the innovative applications that we have created. The University will remain as the centre for research and development for further applications, products and services, which can only add to its reputation for innovation in research and clinical excellence.”

Alastair Smith, Chief Executive, Avacta Group, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Reactivlab under the Avacta Animal Health umbrella.  The combination of Reactivlab’s established tests and the University of Glasgow's world leading expertise in veterinary acute phase protein testing, with Avacta Animal Health’s ability to commercialise veterinary tests, places us in a strong position to lead the growth in APP testing in this market. We believe that this will lead to substantial commercial and clinical value from a huge untapped marketplace. One only has to look at the human market in APP testing to see the potential for the veterinary application of these tests.”

* Acute Phase Proteins (“APPs”) are proteins in plasma which rapidly increase in concentration following infection, inflammation or trauma. The concentration level relates to the severity of any underlying condition, and therefore provides an objective measure of health status.

ReactivLab’s expertise is based on over 20 years’ research conducted by the founder of the company Professor David Eckersall and his colleagues at the University of Glasgow. The company was formally spun out from the University in August 2007, with the objective of commercialising the expertise and extensive know-how. It is located within the University’s Animal Health Technology Complex at the Garscube Estate in Glasgow, the headquarters for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where it can maintain its close links with the clinical practitioners and research teams.  

Further information:
Martin Shannon, Senior Media Relations Officer
University of Glasgow Tel: 0141 330 8593

Alastair Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Avacta Group plc Tel:  0870 835 4367 www.avacta.com

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First published: 2 March 2010