Gen-Probe Receives National Medal of Technology

Nordhoff: Honored and thankful.

In November, President Bush named in vitro diagnostics manufacturer Gen-Probe Inc. (San Diego) as one of seven National Medal of Technology laureates for 2004. The company was recognized for the development and commercialization of its Procleix line of nucleic-acid-based blood-screening tests.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award for innovation in protecting the donated blood supply,” says Henry L. Nordhoff, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Gen-Probe. “I would like to thank the hundreds of Gen-Probe employees whose talents, expertise, and extraordinary efforts made this recognition possible. We also received support from many external collaborators, including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; our blood bank customers; Chiron Corp.; and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.”

The National Medal of Technology is the United States’ highest honor for technological achievements. It recognizes entities that, in the words of the White House announcement, “ embody the spirit of American innovation and that have advanced the nation’s global competitiveness. Their vision and accomplishments have helped commercialize new technologies, create jobs, improve American productivity, and stimulate the nation’s economic growth and development.”

The award was established by Congress in 1980 and is administered by the Department of Commerce.

Gen-Probe markets a range of products designed to diagnose human disease and screen donated human blood. The company also developed and manufactures the only FDA-approved blood-screening assay for the joint detection of human immunodeficiency virus 1 and hepatitis C. The assay is marketed by Chiron Corp. (Emeryville, CA).

© 2005 Canon Communications LLC

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