BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.) has acquired GenCell Biosystems, in a deal that expands the buyer’s offerings into next-generation sequencing (NGS). The price and other financial details were not disclosed.

Founded in 2011, GenCell has created an automated platform that according to BD is designed to facilitate library preparation for NGS. GenCell’s Composite Liquid Cell (CLC) technology allows for open architecture microfluidics, smaller sample sizes and eliminates plastic consumables, while being adaptable to many different instrument configurations and applications.

“In a short amount of time we have been able to move CLC technology from concept to product. We believe we will now be able to scale up and introduce further transformative innovation in NGS-related segments,” Kieran Curran, GenCell’s CEO and founder, said in a statement.

GenCell has also incorporated CLC on its fully automated Genotyping platforms. The company won the 2013 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening’s new product award for the GenCell Genotyper GT-Series, which was designed to enable continuous genotyping in miniaturized reaction volumes, sub 300 nL total volume with sample volumes of less than 100 nL (1 billion nanoliters equals one liter, which in turn equals 1.06 quarts), enabling researchers to perform automated low-cost high throughput applications.

Added Linda Tharby, group president, BD: “The acquisition gives BD access to the NGS market with a differentiated platform that will provide a base to further grow our genomics offerings.”

Privately-held GenCell bases its headquarters and manufacturing operations in Limerick, Ireland—although the company maintains a U.S. marketing, sales, and service group in Madison, WI. GenCell employs more than 60 people, according to its website.

BD said the anticipated impact of the deal will be reflected in guidance to investors that the company plans to disclose during its fourth-quarter earnings call, scheduled for November 4 at 8 a.m.

Publicly traded BD employs more than 30,000 people in 50 countries, and generates more than $8 billion in annual revenues.

GenCell marks BD’s second acquisition in as many weeks, and third this year. Earlier this month it completed the $12.2 billion purchase of CareFusion, whose medical technologies focus on helping healthcare providers manage medication and supply dispensing, as well as lower the risk of hospital-acquired infections.

In January, BD spent $40 million to acquire Alverix, a privately held developer of point-of-care diagnostics based in San Jose. Alverix was BD’s partner and key supplier in developing the BD Veritor™ System, which is designed to provide healthcare providers with objective interpretations of diagnostic results within approximately 10 minutes. 

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