Thermo Fisher Scientific Picks Up B.R.A.H.M.S. for $470.46M to Pad Diagnostic Portfolio

Thermo Fisher Scientific is buying B.R.A.H.M.S. for €330 million (approximately $470.46 million). B.R.A.H.M.S. provides specialty in vitro diagnostics based on its patented biomarkers for sepsis, cardiovascular diseases, and pulmonary diseases as well as intensive care treatments and prenatal screening.

“B.R.A.H.M.S. is a significant addition to our specialty diagnostics portfolio, bringing exciting new products and technologies to an area of our company that offers some of our greatest opportunities for growth,” points out Marijn E. Dekkers, president and CEO of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “B.R.A.H.M.S. assays and instrumentation are a strong complement to our existing products for immunoassay testing, and its robust R&D pipeline creates promising opportunities to commercialize new patented diagnostic tests.

“In addition, the company gives us a significant reagent manufacturing footprint in Europe while allowing us to leverage our deep customer access in the U.S. to market innovative new B.R.A.H.M.S. products.”

B.R.A.H.M.S. is based outside of Berlin in Hennigsdorf, Germany, and has sales offices in Europe and the U.S. With approximately 400 employees serving customers in 65 countries around the world, B.R.A.H.M.S. reported 2008 revenues of €75 million (about $106.9 million).

The firm’s flagship product, Procalcitonin (PCT), is available in Europe for the early diagnosis of sepsis. It is also used to monitor treatment. B.R.A.H.M.S.’ also offers diagnostic tests and instrumentation for thyroid, prenatal, autoimmune, and oncology screening in both laboratory and point-of-care settings. Its development pipeline is focused on new biomarkers for bacterial infections, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders.

B.R.A.H.M.S. will be integrated into the Specialty Diagnostics business within Thermo Fisher’s Analytical Technologies Segment. The transaction, expected to close this month, will likely be accretive to earnings per share in 2010, says Thermo Fisher Scientific.