Additional partnership in medical technology

Bosch and R-Biopharm to strengthen Vivalytic analysis platform

Darmstadt, Gerlingen, and Waiblingen, Germany (ots) - Plans to use innovative
Bosch BioMEMS technology in PCR tests for multiresistant bacteria

- Bosch and R-Biopharm are jointly investing 150 million euros in the
development of new PCR tests and in marketing.

- PCR test for multiresistant gram-negative (MRGN) bacteria to be developed
using novel BioMEMS technology.

- BioMEMS chips permit simultaneous testing of up to 250 genetic characteristics
- in some cases, in less than 15 minutes.

The market for medical technology is innovative, dynamic, and growing. Bosch
sees medical technology as a strategic growth field and intends to expand its
Bosch Healthcare Solutions subsidiary, based in Waiblingen. Bosch has now
entered into a new partnership with the German diagnostics solutions company
R-Biopharm. This partnership will be focused on Bosch's universal, fully
automated Vivalytic molecular diagnostic analysis platform. The two companies
will invest a total of 150 million euros by the end of the decade. Within their
strategic development and distribution partnership, the partners intend to
develop new in vitro diagnostic tests for the Vivalytic platform - including a
PCR test for multiresistant bacteria based on the innovative Bosch BioMEMS
technology. They are also looking to strengthen their marketing operations.

"We are expanding in medical technology, a market we have defined as a strategic
growth field. The fact that we can apply our many years of expertise and
experience in the research and development of microchips, molecular diagnostics,
and miniaturization, as well as our manufacturing know-how, makes this an
attractive prospect for us," says Stefan Hartung, chairman of the Bosch board of
management. "In medical technology, partnership models are a useful way of
shortening product cycles and opening up distribution channels in this dynamic,
innovative market," he adds. Point-of-care molecular diagnostics is expected to
become a market worth billions. Bosch Healthcare Solutions and R-Biopharm aim to
achieve sales in the medium nine-figure range by 2030.

The R-Biopharm Group, based in Darmstadt, Germany, has many years of expertise
in clinical and food diagnostics. In addition, the company has well-established
sales channels worldwide and knowledge of the relevant markets. "Our partnership
with Bosch Healthcare Solutions marks a significant milestone in the
implementation of the R-Biopharm Group's growth strategy in the field of
clinical diagnostics," says Dr. Frank Apostel, Chief Operating Officer Clinical
Diagnostics and Nutrition Care at R-Biopharm. "Together, we will work toward the
goal of offering excellent products and solutions that can play a major part in