Sartorius buys virus counting tech firm ViroCyt for $16m

By Gareth Macdonald

- Last updated on GMT

Sartorius makes latest acquisition in tech space
Sartorius makes latest acquisition in tech space

Related tags Virus

Sartorius has bought virus quantification technology developer ViroCyt for $16m (€14m) in a deal that expands its analytics offering.

ViroCyt’s core technology in an automated virus particle counting system the firm claims can tell biopharmaceutical developers how many intact virus particles are present in culture samples in minutes.

The firm has also developed an antibody-based detection system for influenza. The systems, which was launched in march is capable of rapidly determining virus titer for both flu A and flu B according to ViroCyt.

Sartorius predicted its new US acquisition, which was founded in 2013 when it split from microarray technology firm InDevR, will generate revenue of $3m in 2016 and achieve break-even by 2018.

Acquisitions

Michael Melingo, a member of the Sartorius Group Executive Committee, set the deal in context with other recent purchases, explaining that it was prompted by a desire to expand the firm’s analytical technology offering.

After acquiring the cell screening specialist IntelliCyt, we are now adding a further very innovative bioanalytical tool to our Lab Products & Services portfolio that will enable our customers to obtain lab results much faster and reduce the time to clinic for virus-based pharmaceuticals​.”  

Germany-based Sartorius bought Albuquerque, New Mexico-headquartered instrumentation, software and reagent firm IntelliCyt for $90m last month in a deal prompted by the latter’s I Que Screener high-throughput cell analysis platform.

Sartorius did not respond to a request for comment.

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