Leica Biosystems Acquires Kreatech Diagnostics

Leica Biosystems (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK) announced that it has acquired Kreatech Diagnostics (Amsterdam, NL) a privately-held provider of DNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probes and target labeling reagents for microarrays.

Leica Biosystems is a leader in workflow solutions and automation, striving to advance cancer diagnostics. The company provides anatomical pathology laboratories and researches a comprehensive product range for each step in the pathology process, from sample preparation and staining to imaging and reporting. Leica’s easy-to-use offerings help improve workflow efficiency and diagnostic confidence.

Kreatech is a molecular diagnostics company focusing on the development and commercialization of innovative detection products. Its product portfolio enables customers to detect genetic aberrations that may lead to cancer or other diseases. Kreatech offers a broad commercial portfolio of repeat-free DNA-FISH probes and a dedicated portfolio for microarray labeling applications using its proprietary non-enzymatic Universal Linkage System (ULS) labeling technology.

Leica Biosystems’ Advanced Staining Business Unit based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK) will be joined by Kreatech. The combined business will develop targeted biomarker menus for Leica’s instrument platforms. Leica Biosystems provides the ThermoBrite, and BOND systems that are widely used to label tissue specimens for diagnostic interpretation in cytogenetics and pathology laboratories globally.

“We are very pleased with the acquisition of Kreatech, its extensive portfolio, and development expertise. This will allow Leica Biosystems to better serve our cytogenetics and anatomic pathology customers. It will also enable us to actively support the future development of personalized medicine by research and drug development companies” said Matthias G. Weber, MD, President of Leica Biosystems. “By standardizing and supporting the interpretation of results with our Aperio ePathology imaging solutions, we will provide our customers with the ability to effectively and efficiently manage ever more complex diagnostic requirements.”

“Leica Biosystems is a very natural fit to take Kreatech to the next stage” commented Kees Moonen, CEO of Kreatech Diagnostics. “Leica will bring global brand recognition, worldwide commercial reach, extensive cytogenetics and histology portfolios, and the automation of diagnostic tests on well-established systems. This will tremendously increase the number of customers that can benefit from Kreatech’s superior solutions.”

Related Links:
Leica Biosystems
Kreatech Diagnostics