Olympus Acquires Advalytix

In a move that will add new technologies to the company's portfolio, Olympus Life and Material Science Europa GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) has acquired Advalytix AG (Brunnthal, Germany). Financial terms were not disclosed.

The transaction demonstrates the commitment of Olympus to its fast-growing in vitro diagnostics and life sciences businesses and provides the company with key technologies to maximize growth in analytical systems. Olympus will apply Advalytix's technology to enhance analytical reactions on diagnostic instrumentation and to expand into new areas, such as single-cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or lab-on-a-chip in routine diagnostics.

Microfluidics, used to manipulate liquids in the submicroliter range, is a key technology for both in vitro diagnostics and molecular biology research. By miniaturizing liquid volumes, scarce samples and expensive reagents are conserved. Advalytix's proprietary technology has been commercialized with the SlideBooster hybridization and AdvaWash washing stations, targeted at the microarray market.

"The acquisition of Advalytix represents great opportunities for Olympus worldwide,” remarked Stephen Wassserman, group vice president, Diagnostic Systems Group, Olympus America, Inc. "It positions Olympus at the very forefront of the latest technological developments in the life sciences, puts us at the center of business opportunities in this rapidly expanding field, and helps us sustain our double-digit growth.” The company is a subsidiary of the Olympus Corp. in Tokyo (Japan).





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