Agilent to Expand Portfolio and Capabilities in Cell Analysis with Acquisition of ACEA Biosciences
September 25 2018 - 9:00PM
Business Wire
Highlights:
- Acquisition adds a differentiated
portfolio and organizational capabilities in the fast-growing cell
analysis market
- Combined portfolio expands cell-based
applications and workflows allowing customers more choices to
answer more questions from a single sample
- Combined clinical reagent and
instrument portfolio allows for optimized complete solutions.
- Expands R&D, Manufacturing &
Operations, and Commercial capabilities and footprint in China
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced it has
signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-owned ACEA
Biosciences Inc. (ACEA), a developer of cutting-edge cell analysis
instruments for life science research and clinical diagnostics, for
$250 million in cash.
“Expanding our cell analysis footprint is a key strategic growth
initiative,” said Jacob Thaysen, president of Agilent’s Life
Sciences and Applied Markets Group. “Innovative approaches to cell
analysis are driving market demand and leading to a better
understanding of diseases and the discovery of potential
therapeutics.”
Since its inception in 2002, ACEA has launched two
ground-breaking, highly differentiated platforms. ACEA is
revolutionizing the field of flow cytometry with its
high-performance, customizable line of NovoCyte® benchtop flow
cytometers. ACEA’s xCELLigence® instruments enable label-free,
real-time monitoring of cell growth, cell function, and cellular
responses to a variety of treatments, providing scientists
information-rich cellular assays.
ACEA also has a CFDA approved and CE-IVD labelled cytometer
configuration. ACEA’s clinical flow cytometer, currently
commercialized primarily in China, brings a unique opportunity with
Agilent’s Reagent Partnership business within Agilent’s Diagnostics
and Genomics Group which provides reagents for flow cytometry.
ACEA instruments are used worldwide in both academia and
industry across a wide range of life science applications from
basic research to clinical diagnostics including preclinical drug
discovery and development, toxicology & safety pharmacology,
and various disease studies.
“ACEA represents a unique opportunity for Agilent to expand its
team and broaden its portfolio with highly complementary
technology, increasing the relevance and impact we can have with
our customers in the cell analysis space,” said Todd Christian,
Vice President & General Manager of Agilent’s Cell Analysis
Division. “We share the same passion around the need for and
innovation of live-cell, kinetic, and label free approaches to cell
analysis extending beyond traditional end-point measurements.
Together, we will be able to offer a more comprehensive and
compelling product portfolio to our collective customers.”
“Agilent and ACEA are aligned with a common mission to provide
innovative high-performance solutions that help our customers
advance scientific discovery and improve healthcare,” said Xiaobo
Wang, President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ACEA. “We are
excited for the opportunities that this unique combination will
create for both our employees and our customers.”
ACEA is headquartered in San Diego and has a large manufacturing
and R&D footprint in Hangzhou, China.
Building Critical Mass in Cell Analysis
Agilent entered the cell analysis market in 2015 with the
acquisition of Seahorse Bioscience, a leader in providing
specialized instruments and live-cell, kinetic assays. Agilent
Seahorse XF technology was a leap in the evolution of cellular
metabolism analysis allowing researchers to investigate metabolism
in live cells. In January 2018 Agilent broadened its portfolio of
cell analysis solutions through the acquisition of Luxcel
Biosciences. Luxcel’s assays use soluble sensors to analyze
metabolism, making them a perfect complement to Agilent’s Seahorse
XF technology, providing researchers with more options to analyze
metabolism.
About ACEA
Founded in 2002, ACEA is a pioneer in the development and
commercialization of high performance cell analysis platforms for
life science research. ACEA’s xCELLigence® Real-Time Cell Analysis
instruments and NovoCyte® flow cytometers are used in pre-clinical
drug discovery and development, toxicology, safety pharmacology,
and basic academic research. More than 2,500 instruments have been
placed globally and have been used in more than 1,800 peer-reviewed
publications. For more information visit
https://www.aceabio.com/.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in life
sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. With more than
50 years of insight and innovation, Agilent instruments, software,
services, solutions, and people provide trusted answers to
customers' most challenging questions. The company generated
revenues of $4.47 billion in fiscal 2017 and employs 14,500 people
worldwide. Information about Agilent is available
at www.agilent.com. To receive the latest Agilent news,
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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined
in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe
harbors created therein. The forward-looking statements contained
herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
capabilities and expertise the acquisition brings, the ability to
supply industry requirements and acceleration of growth. These
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause Agilent’s results to differ materially from
management’s current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, the ACEA transaction not being
timely completed, if completed at all, and the ability to integrate
ACEA’s operations with Agilent’s, retain key employees, meet
customer expectations and realize efficiencies from the combined
businesses. In addition, other risks that Agilent faces in running
its operations include the ability to execute successfully through
business cycles; the ability to meet and achieve the benefits of
its cost-reduction goals and otherwise successfully adapt its cost
structures to continuing changes in business conditions; ongoing
competitive, pricing and gross-margin pressures; the risk that our
cost-cutting initiatives will impair our ability to develop
products and remain competitive and to operate effectively; the
impact of geopolitical uncertainties and global economic conditions
on our operations, our markets and our ability to conduct business;
the ability to improve asset performance to adapt to changes in
demand; the ability of our supply chain to adapt to changes in
demand; the ability to successfully introduce new products at the
right time, price and mix; the ability of Agilent to successfully
integrate recent acquisitions; the ability of Agilent to
successfully comply with certain complex regulations; and other
risks detailed in Agilent’s filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended July 31, 2018. Forward-looking statements are
based on the beliefs and assumptions of Agilent’s management and on
currently available information. Agilent undertakes no
responsibility to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statement.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and
executive news is available at www.agilent.com/go/news.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180925006263/en/
EDITORIAL CONTACTS:Agilent Technologies:Victoria
Wadsworth-Hansen (Business)+1 408 553 2005+ 45
29336980victoria.wadsworth-hansen@agilent.comStefanie Notaney
(Enterprise)+1 408 345 8955stefanie.notaney@agilent.comorINVESTOR
CONTACT:Alicia Rodriguez+1 408 345
8948alicia_rodriguez@agilent.com
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