ILLUMINA ACQUIRES HELIXIS FOR $105M
Illumina has unveiled a deal to buy Helixis for up to $105 million, fiercebiotech.com reports.
The genetic analysis equipment maker will now gain control of Helixis' real-time polymerase chain reaction system, which can be used to track the efficacy of cancer drugs or provide biologists with a unique insight on DNA activity.
Illumina, which is paying $70 million up front and $35 million more based on certain contingencies, has some tough competition in the field. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the acquisition will make Illumina more competitive with Life Technologies and others in the market.
Christian Henry, SVP and GM of Illumina's life sciences division said, "We are excited to launch the Eco Real-Time PCR System, which we believe will set new standards for performance, simplicity and affordability."