Agilent Technologies is expanding its life sciences business through the acquisition of Halo Genomics and BioSystem Development. Halo Genomics provides sample preparation technology for next-generation DNA sequencing, and BioSystem Development develops and manufactures sample prep solutions for drug R&D.
The acquisition of Halo, based in Uppsala, Sweden, is now final. The asset acquisition of BioSystem Development, headquartered in Madison, WI., is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year.
Halo Genomics' technology addresses sequence-selective sample preparation. The company's HaloPlex technology combines the speed and specificity of PCR-based systems with the scalability and capture-size flexibility of solution-based hybridization formats, thus eliminating the need for library preparation.
HaloPlex technology is expected to complement Agilent's SureSelect target enrichment platform by providing a high-performance solution for small capture sizes. The speed of the technology reportedly addresses the needs of the desktop sequencing market and clinical sequencing space.
"Halo Genomics' unique technology and talented R&D team will expand Agilent's solutions for emerging sequencing applications and accelerate our entry into the rapidly growing next-gen clinical sequencing market," says Gustavo Salem, vp and GM of Agilent's biological systems division within the life sciences group.
BioSystem Development currently supplies Agilent's automation solutions business with AssayMAP cartridges used in conjunction with Agilent's Bravo liquid-handling platform for protein purification and characterization workflows. The combination reportedly enables chromatographic separation with precision flow control.
"We are excited about bringing BioSystem Development, a valued partner, into Agilent," says Fred Strohmeier, vp and GM of Agilent's liquid phase analysis division within the company's life sciences group. "BioSystem Development's innovative and versatile microchromatography technology and the team's applications expertise will help Agilent expand its capabilities as a sample-prep provider for the life sciences market."
The AssayMAP platform can be leveraged for bioprocess development, biomarker identification and analysis, as well as a variety of other life science research applications, according to Agilent.