Biopool Wins 2 Patents, Reports Doubling of Sales

Biopool International Inc., a Ventura-based producer of test kits for diagnosing blood, vascular and other disorders, has been granted two new patents and has nearly doubled its sales in the past year, said Michael D. Bick, chief executive officer.

One of the patents is for an improved method of collecting samples used in testing blood clotting and dissolving, Bick said.

Non-exclusive rights for marketing the kit in Japan have been granted to that country’s Yamanouchi Pharmaceuticals, he reported. “We’ll be marketing the product worldwide ourselves. It could be significant to our future growth.”

The other new patent is for a product that enhances the sensitivity of laboratory tests in the immunology field. Both products were developed by Biopool scientists at the company’s laboratories in Umea, Sweden.

Last year, Bick said, Biopool doubled to 14 the number of employees at its corporate headquarters and distribution center in Ventura. In the same year, the company’s worldwide sales increased 90%, he added. Revenues in 1991 totaled $2.6 million.

“We showed our first profits last year. Our next financial report will show that each quarter of 1992 was profitable.”

Biopool, whose shares are listed on NASDAQ, now has a total of 38 employees at its locations in Ventura, Canada and Sweden.