Abcam Completes $6M Takeover of Mitochondrial Research Tools Specialist MitoSciences

U.K. antibody and proteomics research products firm Abcam has bought mitochondrial research tools specialist MitoSciences for $6 million in cash and shares. Abcam says acquisition of the U.S. firm will expand its pipeline of protein research tools and bolster its manufacturing and product-development capacity, particularly in the area of assay development.

MitoSciences is focused on developing mitochondrial antibodies and mitochondrial assays for the study of altered metabolic states in neurodegeneration, aging, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The firm’s marketed portfolio comprises over 200 products in the areas of metabolism and apoptosis, including antibody cocktails, cell fractionation kits, sandwich ELISA kits, in-cell ELISA, flow cytometry antibodies, and enzyme activity assays. MitoSciences has in addition developed assays on multiplexing platforms, including bead-based arrays for benchtop flow cytometers, and microplate and slide-based arrays.

The firm separately offers consultation services to assist with the design or interpretation of screening projects, investigational studies of mitochondrial toxicity, or up-regulation of mitochondrial function.

Based in the U.K., Abcam’s catalog spans 72,000 products including in-house-developed and third-party antibodies as well as nonantibody products including proteins, peptides, lysates, and immunoassays. The firm has international offices in the U.S., Japan, and China. Abcam reported sales of £39.4 million (about $64 million) in the second half of 2010 (to December 31), up 23.7% on sales in the first half of 2010. The firm in addition expanded its catalog of products by 19.3% during the second half of 2010.