Lab21 Expands Microbiology Offering With Acquisition of Biotec

Lab21 (Cambridge, UK) has purchased the majority shareholding of Biotec Laboratories Ltd (Ipswich, UK), a clinical diagnostic company with emphasis on infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis (TB). As part of the sale, Lab21 also acquires Biotec's South African subsidiary, Biotec Laboratories SA (Johannesburg, South Africa), which is a joint venture with the Cape Biotech Trust. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and the transaction takes immediate effect. For the immediate future, Biotec Laboratories will continue to trade as a subsidiary of Lab21 group.

The acquisition expands the Lab21 microbiology product offering in infectious diseases and broadens its global distribution network. Biotec Laboratories SA, based in Johannesburg, South Africa has developed proprietary phage amplification technology that is being used to develop rapid diagnostic and susceptibility tests for both active and drug resistant TB.

Dr. Berwyn Clarke, chief scientific development officer of Lab21 commented, "We look forward to working with the R&D team of Biotec and exploring how its phage amplification technology can be used for the detection of other mycobacterium borne diseases, beyond TB. The combination of our technical and clinical skills and sector experience creates a very strong R&D group that can fuel significant new product development in both immunodiagnostics and molecular diagnostics over the coming years."

Biotec Laboratories is a rapid diagnostics business, engaged in the production and worldwide distribution of quality reagents, test kits and dehydrated culture media. Its research and development is focused on new and innovative technologies in the field of rapid amplification of bacteria, with particular emphasis on the detection of tuberculosis.

Lab21 is a global provider of diagnostic products and services, supporting drug discovery and healthcare. Its customers include healthcare providers, pharmaceutic, and biotechnology companies. The company has a growing test portfolio providing companion diagnostics and high technology assays for the growing integration of personalized medicine into healthcare.

Related Links:
Lab21
Biotec Laboratories Ltd