Roche Diagnostics recognizes Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories as Roche Molecular Center of Excellence

Institution joins strategic network designed to help accelerate advancement of new methods in molecular diagnostics, anatomic pathology and sequencing

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Roche Diagnostics

Feb 13, 2018, 07:00 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the establishment of a strategic alliance with Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories of Milwaukee, Wisc., that designates the institution as a Roche Molecular Center of Excellence (MCOE).

Established in 2002, Roche's MCOE network enables non-competing regional laboratories across the U.S. to collaborate and capitalize on scientific knowledge in molecular testing and, in turn, help accelerate the advancement of new test methods and technology. Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories serves more than 30 hospitals, 500 long-term care facilities and 100 outreach practices in Wisconsin and the Chicago area.

"Roche is very pleased to welcome Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories into the Molecular Centers of Excellence network," said Jack Phillips, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "The network will benefit from their expertise in lab quality, automation and informatics, and we look forward to working together to implement molecular technologies for the advancement of personalized medicine."

Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories is one of 34 labs that have received the MCOE designation and joined in the strategic partnership. "This relationship with the MCOE network will help keep Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories on the forefront of diagnostics," said Nathan Ledeboer, Ph.D., Medical Director of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics for Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories and Associate Professor of Pathology with the Medical College of Wisconsin. "It will also support our focus on quality and efficiency within the lab and ensure that the right test and right technology are used at the right time."

As a nationally recognized Roche MCOE, WDL will offer physicians and patients some of the latest and most innovative technologies in molecular and tissue diagnostics, and will help provide input to Roche for the development of next-generation diagnostic solutions.

About Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories
Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories (WDL) serves more than 30 hospitals, 500 long-term care facilities and 100 outreach practices in Wisconsin and the Chicago area. WDL is the sole laboratory provider for Froedtert Health & the Medical College of Wisconsin. Over 5 million tests are performed on-site annually by a robust team of industry-leading laboratory professionals. WDL is dedicated to optimizing patient care by providing patient-centric, quality, innovative, medical laboratory testing.

About the Roche Molecular Centers of Excellence (MCOE) network
Established in 2002, the Roche MCOE network includes about 30 leading U.S. diagnostic laboratories and provides a forum to collaborate on strategies to optimize the utilization of molecular solutions in laboratory testing. The network leverages the expertise of thought leaders at these institutions to advance current and emerging technologies—including molecular diagnostics, tissue diagnostics and sequencing—to help laboratories address healthcare challenges and contribute to improved patient care.

About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people's lives. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalized healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right treatment to each patient in the best way possible.

Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management.

Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to society. The company also aims for improving patient access to medical innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. Twenty-nine medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognized as the Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry eight years in a row by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI).

The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in 2016 employed more than 94,000 people worldwide. In 2016, Roche invested CHF 9.9 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 50.6 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com or usdiagnostics.roche.com.

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For further information, please contact:
Mike Weist
Communications Business Partner
Roche Diagnostics Corporation
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
(317) 521-3112
[email protected]

SOURCE Roche Diagnostics