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History

Milestones in Biohit’s history

2017-2019

A wide-ranging comparative study found Biohit’s Acetium® lozenge to be effective in helping smokers to give up smoking (www.acetium.com). Sales of the product began and comprehensive distribution channels were established in Finland via pharmacies, as well at grocery stores. The first few distribution agreements were also made for the product in other EU countries.

Biohit Oyj’s Acetium® was granted an important patent in Japan (Patent no: 6178657) Biohit’s distributor, Biohit Healthcare (Hefei) Co. Ltd, announced that it was increasing it’s investments in production capacity to 75 million tests annually. In the review period, Biohit Healthcare (Hefei) Co. Ltd also purchased 33.2.% of all of the shares in Biohit Oyj from the company’s main owner. Osmo Suovaniemi and his family, acquiring 29.5% of the voting rights based on shares. Osmo Suovaniemi is still having over 50 % of number of votes in the company.

Net sales EUR 10,1 million

2016

Biohit Oyj acquires a stake in Genetic Analysis AS, a Norwegian company.

Biohit’s joint venture in China begins manufacturing the GastroPanel® product.

Net sales EUR 8,2 million

2015

Biohit completes its first studies related to giving up smoking.

Study protocols available via www.biohithealthcare.com

The first population-based GastroPanel® screen begins in China.

A vitamin D test based on vertical measurement joins the product range.

Standardised GastroPanel® immunoassays based on the vertical measurement invention are also launched.

Net sales EUR 6,1 million

2014

New products: Calprotectin test for diagnosis and monitorin of inflammatory bowel diseases, Biohit Active B12 test to diagnosis of B12 vitamin deficiency.

Net sales EUR 4,4 million

2013

Subsidiary in Italy

Joint Venture in China, Biohit Healthcare (Hefei) Co. Ltd.

Net sales EUR 3,5 million

2012

International patents, incl. US, China, Europatent.

Net sales EUR 2,0 million

2011

Launch of the unique Acetium® capsule that reduces carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the stomach

Establishment of a representative office in Singapore

Semi Korpela appointed new President & CEO of Biohit Group

Net sales EUR 2,2 million

2010

Launch of the Acetium® capsule that reduces carcinogenic acetaldehyde in anacidic stomach.

Establishment of a representative office in Singapore.

Net sales EUR 40,0 million

2009

Establishement of Biohit subsidiary in India

Launch of Pipetting Academy

Launch of SafetySpace™ Filter Tips

Renewal of product packages

Accreditation of Biohit’s pipette calibration laboratory in Russia

Net sales EUR 35,4 million

2008

20th Anniversary of Biohit

Launch of ColonView faecal occult blood test

Launch of new filter tips

Accreditation of Biohit’s calibration laboratory in Germany

Net sales EUR 35,1 million

2007

Launch of the new Proline Plus mechanical pipette range

Launch of GastroView (3-in-1 Indigestion Test) in the UK

Agreement with VWR concerning liquid handling product sales in Europe

Net sales EUR 35,7 million

2006

Liquid Handling business receives ISO 13485 certification (CE/IVD compliance)

Biohit opens subsidiary and starts pipette assembly in China

Launch of the electronic eLINE Dispenser for multiple dispensing

Chinese scientists recommend GastroPanel® for use in Chinese health care

Biohit announces its new products that reduce carcinogenic acetaldehyde in the mouth and stomach

Launch of the Helicobacter pylori IgA/IgG ELISA test

Net sales EUR 31,4 million

2005

China´s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) granted Biohit a marketing authorization for the pepsinogen I & II and gastrin-17 tests included in the GastroPanel® examination

New contracts help strengthen the company’s OEM business

Net sales EUR 28,6 million

2004

Launch of the multichannel mechanical mLINE pipettes

Launch of quick tests for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and lactose intolerance

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the GastroPanel® test kit’s serum-based H. pylori test

Prize awarded to Biohit by VWR USA, one of the largest global distributors of liquid handling products

Net sales EUR 26,7 million

2003

Launch of the multichannel electronic eLINE pipettors

Establishement of Biohit’s representative office in China

Further development of the production at the Kajaani plant

Diagnostics business receives ISO 13485 certification and CE/IVD compliance

Net sales EUR 26,6 million

2002

Launch of the new mLINE mechanical pipettor range

Enlargement of the electronic eLINE pipettor product range

Continuation of the automatisation at the production premises in Kajaani

Biohit opens a subsidiary in Russia

Net sales EUR 25,3 million

2001

Marketing of the GastroPanel® began for research use and several clinical evaluations are being carried out

Development of test kit for cellular fibronectin (cFn)

Completion of new production premises for diagnostics in Helsinki, Finland Service laboratory operations start.

Net sales EUR 25,5 million

2000

Completion of new production premises in Kajaani

Accreditation of Biohit’s pipette calibration laboratory in Finland

Preparation to commence the global marketing and sales of diagnostic tests and analyzing systems

Commencement of the sales of instruments

Reinforcement of international collaboration and customer service organization through acquisitions in the US and Russia

Net sales EUR 24,2 million

1999

Listing on Helsinki Exchanges (New Market list)

Continuation of the aggressive patenting policy

Net sales EUR 20,5 million

1998

Assembling of pipettors and injection moulding begins in Helsinki

Locus genex Oy and Biohit Systems, Inc. become Biohit Group companies

External evaluation of the first test kit (pepsinogen I) of the GastroPanel program

Ph.D. Thesis of Auli Linnala: Basic research on Biohit’s monoclonal antibodies (cFn and tenascin), which are related with cancer diagnostics

Net sales EUR 16,8 million

1997

Moving into new facilities in Helsinki

ISO 9001 quality system certification

Co-operation with Becton Dickinson and 3M begins

Receiving EUREKA[2] status on the basis of which TEKES funding received for the GastroPanel® program

Net sales EUR 14,4 million

1996

Reinforcement of international sales and marketing

The GastroPanel® program begins

Ph.D. Thesis of Sari Ylätupa: An application invention of vertical measurement and immunoassays; the determination of cFn from blood samples and its importance in cancer diagnostics

Net sales EUR 12,6 million

1995

Launch of several new liquid handling products

Establishment of a Biohit subsidiary in Germany

Co-operation with Eastman Kodak Co. Clinical Diagnostic Systems, later acquired by Johnson & Johnson begins

Net sales EUR 10,5 million

1994

Development of the renewed electronic pipettor

Co-operation with Ortho Diagnostic Systems of Johnson & Johnson begins

Establishment of joint venture in Japan

Ph.D. Thesis of Osmo Suovaniemi: The vertical measurement invention, its applications and the invention of electronic liquid handling devices

Net sales EUR 8,4 million

1993

Launch of the multichannel Proline mechanical pipette

Co-operation regarding liquid handling products with Eppendorf and bioMérieux begins

Net sales EUR 6,4 million

1992

Launch of the Proline mechanical pipette

Launch of the multichannel Proline electronic pipettor

Establishment of subsidiaries in Italy and the UK

Ph.D. Thesis of Tapani Tiusanen: An application invention of vertical measurement; the self-correcting, multiparameter measuring instrument

Net sales EUR 4,2 million

1991

TEKES funding for the development of mechanical pipettors

Establishment of the first Biohit subsidiary, in France

Introduction of new monoclonal antibodies

Net sales EUR 2,1 million

1990

Worldwide introduction of the first ergonomically designed electronic pipettor, the Proline

Assembling of pipettors and injection moulding begins in Kajaani, Finland

Introduction of first monoclonal antibodies

Net sales EUR 0,49 million

1989

TEKES[1] funding received for the electronic and mechanical pipettors, pipettor tips as well as microplates

Net sales EUR 0,12 million

1988

Establishment of Biohit Oy

Electonic pipettor development begins

Establishment of Locus genex Oy, the current diagnostics division of the Biohit Group