Inverness makes the move to China

WALTHAM, Mass. Inverness Medical Innovations will be transferring production of its consumer diagnostics to Chinese facilities from its facility in England, the company announced Thursday.

The company intends to close its Unipath facility based in Bedford, England. During the second half of 2007, Unipath manufactured approximately 53 million tests, of which approximately 46 million were supplied to Inverness’ 50/50 consumer diagnostics joint venture. Inverness anticipates that the closure and transfer could be completed by year-end 2009.

The intention to move represents an acceleration of Inverness’ ongoing plans to significantly reduce product cost, increase margins and extend product life cycles for its women’s health and professional diagnostic product lines.