Company will receive 60% of human leukocyte antigen testing product revenues on top of the low royalties it already earns.

Celera reports that it will acquire most of Atria Genetics’ assets for approximately $33 million in cash. Celera will thus earn significantly more on Atria’s line of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) testing products than through its previous arrangement.


Atria’s HLA tests are used for identifying potential donors in the matching process for bone marrow transplantation. Since January 2004, these instruments have been marketed and distributed worldwide by Abbott Molecular through its alliance with Celera. Previously, Celera says that it was receiving a low single-digit percentage royalty on these revenues. With this acquisition, the company will retain 60% of end-user sales and will also continue to receive the low single-digit percentage royalty on the total end-user revenues.


Fiscal 2006 end-user revenues for the Atria products were approximately $12 million, which grew approximately 10% over the prior year, according to Celera. The HLA market is reportedly estimated to be $175 million, of which approximately 20% is in bone marrow transplantation and the bone marrow registry.


The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of Celera’s fiscal 2008. The company anticipates that the acquisition will be accretive to earnings in the second half of fiscal 2008.

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