Becton, Dickinson's (BDX) MAX Vaginal Panel Gets CE Mark

Becton, Dickinson and Company BDX, popularly known as BD, recently announced the receipt of CE marking for its BD MAX Vaginal Panel -- a new in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay. The product expands BD's reproductive and sexually transmitted Infections Portfolio.

The new assay will enable laboratories and clinicians to detect microorganisms responsible for Bacterial Vaginosis BV, Candidiasis CA and Trichomoniasis TV through a single test. BV, CA and TV are the most common vaginal infections that affect women's health.

BD MAX Vaginal Panel aims at solving the challenges associated with traditional methods of detecting microorganisms responsible for vaginal infections. Per management "The BD MAX Vaginal Panel has the potential to help clinicians improve patient management and help laboratories increase workflow efficiency."

The latest CE marking reflects BD's continuous endeavour to develop innovative products. A plethora of FDA approvals in recent times has added products like Totalys MultiProcessor and Totalys SlidePrep instruments, FACSPresto system and FACSPresto CD4/Hb Cartridge and Vacutainer UltraTouch Push Button Blood Collection Set to the company's product portfolio.

Moreover, BD continues to make progress with CareFusion product registrations, having successfully registered more than 50 products in over 20 countries. In addition, the company has submitted registrations and is awaiting approval for an additional 25 products.

Further, collaborations with Medtronic MDT for the infusion set and the recently announced collaboration with Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy for the new Cell Sorter program are key growth drivers in our view.

Meanwhile, BD's expansion into overseas markets, particularly the emerging markets, is a major positive. In the recently concluded second quarter of fiscal 2016, emerging market revenues grew 5.1% on a currency neutral basis, driven by solid growth in China (up 9.4%) and Latin America.

BD now expects total emerging markets to grow in the high single-digit range, compared to its previous guidance of 9% to10% growth for full-year 2016. The revised guidance reflects clinical tender delays in Africa, associated with the company's HIV monitoring business related to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. However, BD continues to expect China to grow in the low double-digit range.  

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

BD carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in the same space include C.R. Bard BCR and CONMED Corp CNMD. Both the stocks have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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