Fujifilm entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement with GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric. It will develop, manufacture and supply advanced biomolecular imaging systems to GE Healthcare. The products will be sold worldwide under the GE brand in the life science research and drug discovery markets.

Life science research has advanced rapidly in recent years with the advent of tools for genomic and protein research such as biomolecular labeling, detection and analysis. These technologies have helped reveal the functions of proteins, thereby contributing to scientists’ understanding of disease processes. The use of life science instrumentation and reagents in bioscience research is growing, and the demand for new and innovative enabling technologies is expanding.

“By forming the alliance, both companies will make the most of our complementary capabilities to continue to contribute to the advancement of genomic and protein research, and to help enhance the quality of life of people worldwide. GE Healthcare’s global presence as a supplier of reagents and instruments, and its competence in biological applications within the life science field combined with Fujifilm’s leading imaging technologies, R&D and manufacturing capabilities will provide our customers with comprehensive system solutions for research, drug discovery and bioanalytical applications,” stated Yuzo Toda, Director, Corporate Vice President, General Manager of Life Science Products Division, Fujifilm.

“ We are delighted to work with Fujifilm to expand our support to bioscience research in biomolecular imaging system solutions,” said Nigel Darby, General Manager of Biotechnologies, Life Sciences, GE Healthcare. “Fujifilm’s high quality technology platforms fit well with our proprietary labeling technologies and the adjacent fields in the imaging workflow that GE Healthcare currently addresses. Furthermore, the integration of the imaging platform with our global service organization will give strong and valuable customer support.”

Fujifilm will supply image analyzing systems for bioscience research to GE Healthcare, and GE Healthcare will market and sell them under the GE brand. GE Healthcare will be responsible for marketing/sales of the systems worldwide, and will provide total solutions including instruments, ECL and DIGE labeling reagents, and applications support. Additionally, GE Healthcare will provide instrument services for the systems.

Fujifilm and GE Healthcare will collaborate to develop image analyzing systems that are optimized for customer applications.