In Vitro Diagnostics: The Quest For Growth

The quest for market growth in the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) space is taking manufacturers down a number of avenues, as they seek to counter the effects of the economic downturn that has hit particularly hard in the US and Western European markets over the past couple of years. Since 2008, economic woes in these regions have put pressure on large, consumer-based market segments, such as the diabetes glucose-testing market, driving down sales, pricing, and profits. As a result, the IVD industry is actively seeking out higher growth opportunities to offset this impact—and it is finding solutions in several areas, branching into underserved emerging markets like China and India and targeting higher-growth clinical segments such as cancer, women's health, and infectious disease. But perhaps the biggest opportunity for future growth lies in the field of molecular diagnostics, particularly products that address the move toward more personalized care. Suppliers well positioned to take advantage of this opportunity are likely to experience strong growth ahead.

The IVD industry is also expected to fare better than some other device markets in the post–health care reform world,...