Quidel history

With $1.5 million in seed money from the venture capital firm Brentwood Associates, Katz established Quidel Corporation in 1982 in Torrey Pines Mesa, near San Diego.

In August 1985 Monoclonal achieved what it considered a major court victory when a federal judge dismissed the case, noteworthy because it was the first genetic engineering patent dispute to be settled in court.

In August 1986 Johnson & Johnson pulled out of its deal to sell an ovulation test because of shelf-life problems.

In July 1987 Monoclonal agreed to pay Hybritech $2.25 million to settle past claims and acquired a one-year license with a 15 percent royalty to sell its products until they were reformulated.

Finding a Merger Partner in 1990

Quidel Corporation was formed in 1991 when Quidel and Monoclonal Antibodies merged.

1996 An alliance with Glaxo Wellcome is formed.

They signed another collaborative agreement in 1997 to develop diagnostic tests to detect genital herpes.

In the year 1999 (Quidel's fiscal year now ended on December 31), the company recorded sales of $52.2 million and net income of $5.9 million.

Also in 2000, Quidel began selling a urinalysis product line, Quick Vue UrinChek, an improved H. pylori test for peptic ulcer disease in the United States market, began selling an over-the-counter influenza test in Europe, and received permission to market its influenza test in Canada as well.

Sales continued to grow, reaching $92.5 million in 2003, while net income approached $20 million.

The year 2004 brought a change in management as Caren L. Mason was named president, CEO, and a member of the board of directors after the company reported disappointing quarterly results and CEO S. Wayne Kay was asked to leave.

In 2010, Quidel acquired Diagnostic Hybrids, Inc. a privately held in vitro diagnostic company.