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- Overview
IDS
Set up in 1977 as a UK distributor of diagnostic products, IDS established its own laboratories in 1981 to develop and manufacture immunoassay kits.
From there it has grown to become an internationally leading developer and manufacturer of healthcare diagnostic kits focussing on Vitamin D and bone and skeletal biomarkers. In 2004, IDS floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange.
Activities in the region
IDS’s flagship products measure levels of Vitamin D in human serum. As a regulator of calcium levels, Vitamin D is thought to be linked to the prevention of a number of serious diseases including breast, prostate, and colon cancer, diabetes and heart disease. IDS also produces a number of products for use in the field of bone diseases including osteoporosis, osteomalcia and Paget’s disease.3
IDS employs over 70 staff at its headquarters in Boldon and many more worldwide. Its headquarters incorporates its R&D operations and manufacturing plant. IDS has sales and marketing operations in the UK, USA, Belgium, France, Germany and Denmark. Following the acquisition in 2005 of the Finnish company SBA Sciences of Oulu, this became an additional R&D facility. A further two acquisitions, in France and Scandinavia, have recently been completed.
IDS were the 2007 winner of the Outstanding Growth Award at Cels Business for Life Awards, and went on to win the Growth in Sector award at the national Medilink Awards.
Current and future developments
Exports now account for more than 70% of the company’s sales. In recognition of this, IDS won the 2006 Queen’s Award for Enterprise.1
IDS reported an increase in turnover of 88.1% to £18.66M in the year ended March 2008, with gross profit up 75.8% to £11.43M. During this time, two acquisitions were completed contributing £6.98M to this turnover: the French firm Biocyde Hycel; and Scandinavian group Nordic Bioscience Diagnostics.
Contact
Roger Duggan – Managing Director
Tel: (0191) 519 0660
rtd@idsltd.com
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