bioMérieux Expands its Infectious Disease Offering with Acquisition of ARGENE, Specialized in Molecular Diagnostics for Immunocompromised Patients

Marcy l'Etoile, France - July 19, 2011 . bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, announced that it has acquired ARGENE, a French company specialized in molecular diagnostics. This acquisition is bioMérieux’s tenth in the last five years.

With over twenty years of experience in the field of virology diagnostics, ARGENE has 70 employees worldwide. The company’s 2010 sales reached 10 million euros, with molecular diagnostics representing three-quarters of its business. Headquartered in Verniolle, in the Midi-Pyrenees region of southern France, the company realizes 50% of its revenue abroad and has direct distribution in Switzerland, Italy and the United States. ARGENE has a strong innovation focus, dedicating a large portion of its revenue to R&D and working closely with the academic sector.

“ARGENE’s unique expertise and comprehensive range of diagnostics for immunocompromised patients will reinforce bioMérieux’s infectious disease offering in an important field of medicine. This acquisition will also enable us to accelerate the time to market of a broad test menu on the new molecular platform we are developing with Biocartis,” said Jean-Luc Bélingard, Chairman and CEO of bioMérieux. “There is a perfect strategic fit between our companies and a shared commitment to improve patient health. We are very pleased that the ARGENE team will be joining bioMérieux,”
he added.

In molecular biology, ARGENE provides a large range of diagnostics for infectious diseases and is an international leader in the field of virological monitoring of transplant patients. Its products include quantitative tests for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. These tests are currently available for use on most commercial, open real-time PCR platforms. Recognized for their exceptional quality, the company’s products are manufactured according to good manufacturing practice (GMP) norms and the ISO 13485 standard.

The acquisition brings significant synergies: by leveraging bioMérieux’s extensive global network, ARGENE’s products will be made available to a broader international customer base. bioMérieux plans to adapt them to its fully integrated molecular system, under development with Biocartis, which is expected to be launched mid-2013. An additional license has been obtained from Biocartis to that effect.

bioMérieux is acquiring 100% of the shares of Ab-SERVICES SAS, the holding company that owns ARGENE. The company was acquired for a price of 37.5 million euros, with contingent payments of up to 5 million euros.