US-based medical technology firm BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has closed its acquisition of smartphone-backed at-home tests provider Scanwell Health for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition builds on the company’s previous collaboration with Scanwell to develop an app used with its recently launched Veritor at-home Covid-19 test.
Veritor is the first at-home Covid-19 test that uses a smartphone camera and app to capture and interpret results, eliminating the human subjectivity, claimed BD.
BD intends to make Scanwell the central digital platform to develop its at-home diagnostic tests for a wide range of infectious diseases, including Covid-19/influenza A+B, group A strep.
In addition, the company aims to create an additional menu for detecting infections and managing chronic diseases.
BD life sciences president Dave Hickey said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to new care settings, and BD is ready to deliver a smart, connected at-home diagnostic ecosystem to support traditional and telehealth providers and consumers.
“This acquisition will enable us to expand and scale our digital capabilities in-house to speed time to market for transformative at-home solutions now and in the future.”
Scanwell app is said to be a differentiating product in the at-home Covid-19 testing market, where no other test uses the smartphone camera to capture test and interpret by the app.
While other tests use smartphones as part of their process, its Veritor at-home Covid-19 test is the first and only test to use the smartphone to digitally interpret the test results, said BD.
The app provides a definitive POSITIVE or NEGATIVE digital display of the test results, and can securely store and report test results to different organisations.
BD said that the transaction is not expected to have any material impact on its fiscal 2022 results.
Also, it would report Scanwell financial results under the Integrated Diagnostic Solutions business within its Life Sciences segment, said BD.
Recently, BD expanded its BD COR System to include a new MX instrument for high-throughput sexually transmitted infectious diseases testing.
