BioFire Diagnostics, the molecular biology affiliate of French firm bioMérieux, has opened its new Alain Mérieux Center for Molecular Diagnostics facility in Salt Lake City. BioFire develops and markets diagnostic testing for infectious diseases under the trade name FilmArray.
“Molecular syndromic testing is game-changing in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and the medical value of the FilmArray system is becoming recognized by health professionals around the world,” said Alexandre Mérieux, CEO of bioMérieux. “When we acquired BioFire Diagnostics in 2014, we were astonished by the skilled teams the company had built, the way our product portfolio complemented each other to fight infectious diseases and the potential for the diagnostic solution to improve public health. This new building and the investment we make on our syndromic testing solutions illustrate the proven success of FilmArray’s leading technology and our commitment to sustain its development for the long term.”
BioFire was founded in 1990 as Idaho Technology Inc. and was acquired by bioMérieux in January 2014.
“BioMérieux is a global company with a longstanding expertise in infectious diseases which allows us to address healthcare challenges worldwide,” said Randy Rasmussen, CEO of BioFire Diagnostics and vice president of molecular biology at bioMérieux. “This new state-of-the-art facility enables us to expand our capabilities and better serve the healthcare industry for the benefit of the patients.”
The new 285,000-square-foot building serves as a hub for bioMérieux’s molecular diagnostics business, represents a nearly $100 million investment and is the home to more than 1,000 employees. The state-of-the-art facility includes a full-service cafeteria, 26 conference rooms, fitness center, underground parking and access to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The building is built to meet LEED Silver standards, contains fully redundant electrical power, and 100 percent LED lighting and is humidity controlled and filtered.
Alain Mérieux, bioMérieux founder, said, “With BioFire Diagnostics, we share the same vision of public health and the same entrepreneurial spirit. It draws on our deep roots, which inspire us to keep moving forward, take risks and place innovation at the center of everything we do, to better address patients’ needs everywhere in the world. Along with other bioMérieux centers of excellence, these new laboratories in Salt Lake City will help position our company as a key contributor to the medicine of the future.”
BioMérieux is a family-owned company founded in 1963, with roots going back to 1897 when Marcel Mérieux studied with Louis Pasteur, known as the father of microbiology. The passion for world health and microbiology was passed down from Marcel to his son Dr. Charles Mérieux and later to Alain Mérieux, the founder of bioMérieux. Today, the company is led by Marcel’s great-grandson, Alexandre Mérieux, and has grown to about 10,000 employees.