Agilent to Create Full NGS Workflow
On a conference call discussing the agreement, Agilent stated that Lasergen will develop a sequencing instrument with Agilent providing instrument engineering expertise and workflow components. Agilent listed its current NGS offerings, which will be part of the integrated workflow, as encompassing lab automation, sample QC, target enrichment, and interpretation support. The target customers for the new workflow will be pathology labs, cancer genetic labs and constitutional genetics labs. Lasergen currently has around 20 employees. Agilent’s fiscal 2016 EPS forecast is not affected.
Santa Clara, CA 3/7/16—As part of its effort to create an NGS workflow for clinical applications, Agilent Technologies has acquired a 48% stake in Lasergen for $80 million. Lasergen is a developer of nucleotide chemistries, including Lightning Terminators for NGS. Agilent also has an option to acquire the remainder of the company until March 2, 2018, for $105 million. “Agilent has been clear about its strategic intent to grow in the diagnostics space and, to that end, build a complete routine clinical NGS workflow,” stated Jacob Thaysen, president of Agilent’s Diagnostics and Genomics Group. “Our investment and collaboration are designed to accelerate Lasergen’s work in commercializing their novel technology, focused on developing a sequencing workflow aimed at clinical applications.” The investment is expected to be dilutive to both fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2017 EPS by $0.02–$0.03.
