PerkinElmer to Commit to New IVF Technology

Thebarton, South Australia 2/26/18—RHS has announced that PerkinElmer plans to acquire the company for an offer price of AUD 0.28 ($0.22 at AUD 1.27 = $1) per share, or approximately AUD 25.2 million ($19.8 million), pending shareholder approval. Listed on the Australian stock exchange, RHS develops the DOPlify whole-genome technology for amplifying single cells or small numbers of cells. Applications include genetic screening of IVF embryos. The acquisition is expected to close in June. RHS also announced interim funding in the form of a loan to implement the deal and fund operations.

According to RHS’ 2016 financial report, the company recorded a 3.8% increase in sales to AUD 76,158 ($58,583 at 1.30 = $1). (For complete financial results, see Bottom Line.) The company’s products address the Pre-implantation Genetic Screening and diagnosis market (PGS). Currently available as a service, the NGS-based PG-Seq for preimplantation genetic testing of aneuploidy and monogenic disorders will soon be launched as a product line, according to the company’s website. The offering is based on the DOPlify technology. The microarray-based EmbryoCellect solutions uses aCHG. All products are research use only. Other participants in the PGS market include Illumina and Invitae. The acquisition gives PerkinElmer single-cell NGS technology applicable to two of its key markets: genomics research and fetal health. 

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