Cepheid Makes Second Diagnostic Acquisition
Cepheid continues to expand its molecular diagnostics PCR business. Last year, the company purchased Actigenics (see IBO 8/15/06), which provides mRNAs. For the first nine months of 2006, the Cepheid’s clinical molecular diagnostics market accounted for 22% of sales, or $13.4 million, up from 10% of sales the year before.
Sunnyvale, CA 2/15/07—Cepheid, a provider of nucleic acid amplification equipment and reagents, has acquired Sangtec Molecular Diagnostics AB from ALTANA Pharma AG for $27 million in cash. Based in Broma, Sweden, Sangtec is a manufactuer of PCR-based molecular diagnostics products and had 2006 revenues of $8 million. Cepheid intends to integrate Sangtec’s affigene kits for the immunocompromised market with in vitro molecular diagnostics products.
