Tokyo, Japan 11/3/16—The Nikkei Asian Review has reported that Fujifilm is in talks to acquire Takeda Pharmaceutical’s 70% share of Wako Pure Chemicals, a provider of laboratory chemicals. The acquisition price is expected to be ¥200 billion ($1.93 billion = ¥103.63 = $1). Wako Pure Chemicals recorded fiscal 2015 sales of ¥80 billion ($772.0 million). Other reported bidders included Hitachi Chemical and the Carlyle Group. The acquisition is expected to be completed by March 2017.

In addition to lab chemicals, Wako Pure Chemicals also supplies specialty chemicals and clinical diagnostic reagents. Wako Pure Chemicals is expected to join Fujifilm’s Medical business, according to the article. Fujifilm Medical primarily provides diagnostic imaging systems. Fujifilm’s lab research products include the QuickGene nucleic acid isolation system and kits, as well as the SPR-based AP-3000 system for drug discovery.