Phadia
Encyclopedia
Phadia develops, manufactures and markets blood test systems to support the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of allergy
, asthma
and autoimmune diseases. The company is headquartered in Uppsala
, Sweden. It has been owned by Thermo Fisher Scientific
since 2011.
group of companies and an off-shoot of the diagnostics division that developed out of Pfizer
and Pharmacia & Upjohn (all Uppsala based companies), Phadia was renamed in January 2006.
The first steps towards the present Phadia AB were taken in the mid 1960's. Three scientists working at Uppsala University Hospital
, Leif Wide, Rolf Axén and Jerker Porath
, then presented their ideas to use Pharmacia's separation medium Sephadex
as the solid phase in immunodiagnostics
tests and proposed a collaboration with the company for the commercial development. Pharmacia's management decided to go for the project and established a special R&D group for diagnostics products. In 1970 Pharmacia's first product, Phadebas
Amylase Test, a test for the enzyme alpha-amylase
, was launched.
At the same time an important medical discovery was made which would be of decisive importance to Phadia. In 1967 immunoglobulin E
, or IgE
, was discovered by two separate research teams, by Teruko and Kimishige Ishizaka in the US and by Gunnar Johansson
and Hans Bennich at Uppsala University Hospital. Johansson and Bennich worked together with Wide to develop a method to measure the levels of the substance in blood samples. Eventually a clear connection was demonstrated between IgE
antibodies and allergic symptoms. Johansson, Bennich and Wide then suggested that Pharmacia should use the findings to develop a commercial allergy test. This led to the ground-breaking product Phadebas RAST, which established the leading position that Phadia still maintains in the area of allergy testing.
in 1967, Phadia has pioneered the development of in vitro
test systems for allergy
(immunoglobulin E). These IgE
tests have been followed by tests for IgG and IgA
antibodies, as well as other analytes with applications in asthma
, celiac disease and autoimmunity
.
In addition, the ImmunoCAP testing system has revolutionized the level of automation and speed which these tests are processed. Based on the high binding capacity and solid phase technology, ImmunoCAP tests are both highly sensitive and highly specific.
Rhinitis
Asthma
Thyroid disease
Diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
ImmunoCAP allergy test
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
, asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
and autoimmune diseases. The company is headquartered in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, Sweden. It has been owned by Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific is a large life sciences supply company that was created in 2006 by the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific.-Predecessors and merger:...
since 2011.
History
Originally part of the PharmaciaPharmacia
Pharmacia was a pharmaceutical and biotechnological company in Sweden.-History:Pharmacia was founded in 1911 in Stockholm, Sweden by pharmacist Gustav Felix Grönfeldt at the Elgen Pharmacy. The company is named after the Greek word φαρμακεία, transliterated pharmakeia, which means 'sorcery'...
group of companies and an off-shoot of the diagnostics division that developed out of Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
and Pharmacia & Upjohn (all Uppsala based companies), Phadia was renamed in January 2006.
The first steps towards the present Phadia AB were taken in the mid 1960's. Three scientists working at Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden is a teaching hospital for the Uppsala University Faculty of Medicine and the Nursing School. Uppsala University Hospital is owned and operated by the Uppsala County Council in cooperation with the university and serves, together with Enköping...
, Leif Wide, Rolf Axén and Jerker Porath
Jerker Porath
Jerker Porath, born 23 October 1921 in Sala, is a Swedish biochemist who has invented several separation methods for biomolecules.Porath studied at Uppsala University and initially did research in organic chemistry under Arne Fredga, where he got his licentiate degree...
, then presented their ideas to use Pharmacia's separation medium Sephadex
Sephadex
Sephadex is a trademark for cross-linked dextran gel used for gel filtration. It was launched by Pharmacia in 1959, after development work by Jerker Porath and Per Flodin. The name is derived from separation Pharmacia dextran. It is normally manufactured in a bead form and most commonly used for...
as the solid phase in immunodiagnostics
Immunodiagnostics
Immunodiagnostics is a diagnostic methodology that uses an antigen-antibody reaction as their primary means of detection. The concept of using immunology as a diagnostic tool was introduced in 1960 as a test for serum insulin...
tests and proposed a collaboration with the company for the commercial development. Pharmacia's management decided to go for the project and established a special R&D group for diagnostics products. In 1970 Pharmacia's first product, Phadebas
Phadebas
Phadebas is a substrate used for both qualitative and quantitative assessment of the alpha-Amylase enzyme. The active component of Phadebas is DSM-P, microspheres in which a blue dye has been chemically bound...
Amylase Test, a test for the enzyme alpha-amylase
Alpha-Amylase
α-Amylase is an enzyme that hydrolyses alpha-bonds of large alpha-linked polysaccharides such as starch and glycogen, yielding glucose and maltose. It is the major form of amylase found in humans and other mammals...
, was launched.
At the same time an important medical discovery was made which would be of decisive importance to Phadia. In 1967 immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin E is a class of antibody that has been found only in mammals. IgE is a monomeric antibody with 4 Ig-like domains...
, or IgE
IGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
, was discovered by two separate research teams, by Teruko and Kimishige Ishizaka in the US and by Gunnar Johansson
Gunnar Johansson
Gunnar Johansson was a Swedish psychophysicist. He was interested in motion perception in vision. He is most well known for his investigations of biological motion. He helped develop the rigidity assumption which posits that proximal stimuli that can be perceived as rigid objects are generally...
and Hans Bennich at Uppsala University Hospital. Johansson and Bennich worked together with Wide to develop a method to measure the levels of the substance in blood samples. Eventually a clear connection was demonstrated between IgE
IGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
antibodies and allergic symptoms. Johansson, Bennich and Wide then suggested that Pharmacia should use the findings to develop a commercial allergy test. This led to the ground-breaking product Phadebas RAST, which established the leading position that Phadia still maintains in the area of allergy testing.
Immunoglobulin E testing
Since the discovery of IgEIGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
in 1967, Phadia has pioneered the development of in vitro
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
test systems for allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
(immunoglobulin E). These IgE
IGE
IGE was one of the largest services company buying and selling virtual currencies and accounts for MMORPG. During its peak time, it had offices in Los Angeles, China , and headquarters & customer service centre in Hong Kong. IGE was one of the main monopoly in virtual economy services, also known...
tests have been followed by tests for IgG and IgA
IGA
Iga or IGA may stand for:-Given name:* a female given name of Polish origin. The name originates from the female given name Jadwiga and stands for gia,or gina in the USA....
antibodies, as well as other analytes with applications in asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, celiac disease and autoimmunity
Autoimmunity
Autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an autoimmune disease...
.
In addition, the ImmunoCAP testing system has revolutionized the level of automation and speed which these tests are processed. Based on the high binding capacity and solid phase technology, ImmunoCAP tests are both highly sensitive and highly specific.
See also
EczemaEczema
Eczema is a form of dermatitis, or inflammation of the epidermis . In England, an estimated 5.7 million or about one in every nine people have been diagnosed with the disease by a clinician at some point in their lives.The term eczema is broadly applied to a range of persistent skin conditions...
Rhinitis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis , commonly known as a stuffy nose, is the medical term describing irritation and inflammation of some internal areas of the nose. The primary symptom of rhinitis is nasal dripping. It is caused by chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose due to viruses, bacteria or...
Asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
Thyroid disease
Thyroid disease
-Hyper- and hypofunction:Imbalance in production of thyroid hormones arises from dysfunction of the thyroid gland itself, the pituitary gland, which produces thyroid-stimulating hormone , or the hypothalamus, which regulates the pituitary gland via thyrotropin-releasing hormone . Concentrations of...
Diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
External links
PhadiaImmunoCAP allergy test