About

Our History

Catachem Inc. was founded in 1984 by Luis P. Leon. It quickly became a leading manufacturer of clinical chemistry reagents for continuous flow automated analyzers. As more flexible random-access machines gradually replaced these analyzers, the company adjusted its reagent product line to fit this new need.

The company changed its focus in the mid-1990s and began developing more specialized assays for both veterinary and research use. The veterinary product line became more significant as Catachem increased its presence in the veterinary field, and many of these reagents were reformulated to cope with the diversity of samples encountered in a veterinary practice.

Catachem purchased Bacton Assay Systems Inc., a manufacturer of immuno-turbidimetric diagnostic reagents, in 2010 to add immunoassay expertise to its manufacturing capabilities. That same year, the company also moved from Bridgeport, Conn., to a new manufacturing facility in Oxford, Conn.

Luis Leon left the company in 2018 with David Templeton taking over his position and responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer. Richard Menzel is the company’s Chief Executive Officer

Commitment to the Environment

Catachem’s aim is the production of high-quality, useful test reagents that are produced in such a way as to maximize value and to minimize our carbon footprint. For example, our new reagent boxes are made from 100% recycled and similarly recyclable cardboard, while our packing materials are biodegradable.

Most recently, Catachem switched to LED lighting sitewide to reduce electricity use. We believe that the economical use of our resources benefits not only our environment, but also fulfills our philosophy as a company.