FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) announced today that it has acquired all of the outstanding stock of Cytopeia, a privately held Washington corporation based in Seattle that develops and markets advanced flow cytometry cell sorting instruments.
Financial terms of this transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on BD's fiscal year 2008 earnings.
"This strategic acquisition brings new technologies and capabilities that will enhance BD's ability to address growing customer needs in advanced applications, such as cell therapy research," said William A. Kozy, BD Executive Vice President. "This transaction reflects our commitment to bringing innovative tools to life scientists and will allow us to rapidly enter emerging areas of cell-based research."
Cytopeia's Influx(TM) cell sorter offers BD an open, configurable cell sorting platform that can be fully optimized for researchers' unique application-specific requirements. This high level of choice and control is particularly important for life science research on the leading edge of biomedical discovery. The Influx cell sorter is suited for a range of applications including cell therapy research, stem cell research, drug discovery and development, as well as marine biology. It complements the BD FACSAria(TM) II system -- the platform of choice in research labs around the world for a broad range of immunology cell sorting and multi-color applications.
Through the acquisition, BD gains the scientific leadership and insights of Dr. Ger van den Engh, a renowned innovator in flow cytometry. Dr. van den Engh will join BD Biosciences, a segment of BD, as Vice President, Advanced Cytometry. In this role, he will manage continuing research and technology development activities in Seattle.
"In addition to access to BD Biosciences' unparalleled portfolio of cellular research tools, Cytopeia's customers will benefit from our high- quality manufacturing and global customer support capabilities," Kozy said.
BD Biosciences is a pioneer and leader in the field of flow cytometry for cellular analysis. BD manufactured the first BD FACS(TM) (fluorescence- activated cell sorting) system in 1973. Today, BD Biosciences offers broad portfolios of research and clinical flow cytometry platforms and reagents designed for cellular characterization and sorting, as well as tools to aid in drug discovery and the growth of living cells and tissue.
About BD
BD, a leading global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents, is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines. The Company's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 28,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. For more information, please visit http://www.bd.com/.
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