Roche Diagnostics to acquire BioImagene

Roche Diagnostics has announced an agreement which will see it gain control of BioImagene, a digital pathology laboratory solutions specialist.

The transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks and sees Roche Group member Ventana Medical Systems acquire a 100 per cent stake in BioImagene for a purchase price of $100 million (64.9 million pounds).

Roche expects the deal to enhance its standing in the tissue-based cancer diagnostics and research sector, with BioImagene offering products for the creation and analysis of digital tissue images.

Daniel O'Day, chief operating officer of Roche Diagnostics, said the deal has been agreed in response to the growing importance of information in governing personalised healthcare approaches.

He added: "The increasing complexity of new tests and technologies creates tremendous need for more sophisticated tools for tissue analysis and diagnosis. BioImagene products will complement and strengthen our current offering."

Last month, the company demonstrated its latest innovations at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry clinical lab expo, including the cobas 8000 analyser series and the ACCU-CHEK Inform II unit.