According to the National Science Foundation’s latest figures, US R&D spending grew an estimated 6.0% in 2006 to $342.9 billion, compared to 2005 growth of 7.8%. Adjusted for inflation, 2006 real R&D expenditures rose 3.5%, down from growth of 5.0% in 2005. The increase was driven by private sector spending, as real R&D spending by […]

Chalfont St. Giles, England 4/16/07—GE Healthcare has acquired Wave Biotech, a supplier of disposable manufacturing technologies, including the Wave bioreactor, Wave Mixer and Sterile Tube Fuser. Financial details were not disclosed. Based in Somerset, New Jersey, with approximately 70 employees, Wave Biotech has annual revenues of $25 million and its equipment is used at over […]

Basel, Switzerland 4/4/07; Gaithersburg, MD 4/4/07—Roche has signed a definitive agreement to acquire BioVeris for $21.50 per share in cash, or approximately $600 million. BioVeris offers reagents and instruments for diagnostic testing and research based on its electrochemiluminescence technology (ECL). Roche Diagnostics stated that the acquisition will allow it to expand its immunochemistry business from […]

Torrance, CA 4/11/07—Phenomenex, a developer and manufacturer of chromatography consumables, has acquired two of its exclusive distributors, Bologna, Italy-based Chemtek Analytica, a Labservice Analytica subsidiary, and Hilleroed, Denmark-based SupWare. Terms were not disclosed. According to Phenomenex, there will be no layoffs and it anticipates staff expansions for acquired companies in the second quarter. Based in […]

Protagen AG launched Modiro PTM-Explorer for the automation of the identification of post-translational modifications of proteins by analyzing thousands of MS profiles in parallel. Geneva Bioinformatics SA launched the PhenyxOnline platform, a solution thatrequires no installation, maintainenance or update software. Eksigent Technologies introduced the NanoLC MALDI Spotting Systems, featuring the new Ekspot spotter, for storage […]

Functional Genomics in Norway (FUGE), which was established in 2002 to build a knowledge base and infrastructure that would help Norway to work at the frontiers of functional genomics research has announced a budget of NOK 920 million ($154.4 million) for 2007–2011, of which NOK 420 million ($70.5 million) is now available for funding projects. […]

Sequenom and QIAGEN GmbH entered into a strategic collaboration to jointly develop a preanalytical solution for small molecule (fetal) DNA enrichment for prenatal diagnostics. Sequenom will retain exclusive distribution rights to the technology for enriching short nucleic acids. In February, Sequenom named Steven Owings to the newly created position of vice president of Commercial Development, […]

Santa Clara, CA 3/16/07; 4/25/07—As part of its first quarter earnings announcement, Symyx Technologies stated that due to market changes it is lowering its 2007 guidance and changing its business model. The company lowered its guidance for 2007 revenues from $133–$140 million, made in February, to $110–$120 million, and its guidance for net income from […]