Skip to main content
Premium Trial:

Request an Annual Quote

In Brief This Week: Hologic; Bruker, Prairie Technologies; Danaher; Abbott; Aethlon, Exosome Sciences; More

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – The US Department of Defense said this week that it has awarded Hologic a maximum $32.3 million modification to a contract, which exercises the fourth option year for the company's ThinPrep Pap test kits and related supplies. The contract was issued through DoD's Defense Logistics Agency and the term of the modification is through Sept. 30, 2014.


Bruker said this week that it has acquired Prairie Technologies, a fluorescence microscopy products maker based in Wisconsin, for an undisclosed amount. Bruker said that the deal will strengthen its position in the life sciences markets, and Prairie's technologies will be added to the Bruker Nano Surfaces Division's existing life science atomic force microscopy systems. Prairie has around 30 employees and brought in revenues of approximately $11 million in 2012, Bruker said.


Danaher's board has approved a regular quarterly dividend of $.025 per share payable on Oct. 25 to shareholders of record on Sept. 27.


Abbott's board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.14 payable on Nov. 15 to shareholders of record on Oct. 15.


Aethlon Medical launched its wholly owned subsidiary Exosome Sciences to "pursue exosome-based strategies" for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of cancer, infectious diseases, and other conditions. Exosome's research facility will be within a CLIA-certified laboratory in Langhorne, Pa. Aethlon said it will contribute diagnostic-related technology to Exosome, including the Enzyme Linked Lectin Specific Assay, which has been validated to identify the presence of exosomes underlying HIV, tuberculosis, and cancers such as ovarian, melanoma, breast, lymphoma, and colorectal.


NextGxDx reached an agreement to offer Cancer Genetics' genomic oncology tests and services through NextGxDx's platform. Based in Nashville, Tenn., NextGxDx is a one-stop source for healthcare providers seeking information about, or wanting to order, genetic tests offered by CLIA-certified laboratories.


RayBiotech has been awarded ISO 13485:2003 certification for compliance in the manufacture of in vitro diagnostics kits provided to the research community. The award applies to multivariant antibody arrays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and membrane and glass format arrays and reagents.


Life science company JSR announced a strategic investment in chromatography firm Natrix Separations. The firms also entered into a global distribution agreement to commercialize Natrix's bioprocessing products. JSR did not disclose the amount of its investment or the financial terms of the distribution deal.


Riddell said that the Arizona State University football program is the first university research partner in a new study aimed at improving athlete concussion detection and treatment. ASU, the Translational Genomics Research Institute, and its research partners are trying to determine whether the effects of sub-concussive hits can be identified through molecular methods. Information gathered from the Riddell Sideline Response System will be evaluated along with molecular information from players who have experienced a concussion to help doctors diagnose a concussion and determine when a player may be able to recover and play again. Riddell and TGen announced their partnership on the study in May.


In Brief This Week is a Friday column containing news items that our readers may have missed during the week.