NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – Accelrys announced this week the acquisition of systems integrator Vialis for up to $10 million.
The deal strengthens Accelrys' position in the laboratory informatics software space and expands its capabilities in downstream application areas such as development, quality control, quality assurance, and manufacturing, the San Diego-based firm said.
Headquartered in Liestal, Switzerland, Vialis integrates data management systems for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemicals, and agro-science industries. Additionally, Vialis provides consulting services to help clients "optimize efficiency, enhance quality by design efforts, increase compliance, maximize knowledge reuse, and reduce cycle times," Accelrys said.
Accelrys paid $5 million in cash for all of Vialis' outstanding stock as part of the deal. It also may pay up to another $5 million in cash if certain growth goals are met during the next three years.
"With demonstrated success in improving laboratory operations by integrating core software systems critical to improving innovation — including electronic laboratory notebooks, laboratory execution systems, and laboratory information management systems — Vialis brings key domain and delivery expertise to Accelrys," said Max Carnecchia, Accelrys' president and CEO, in a statement.
Building on the firm's recent buys of Velquest and Aegis, he said that the Vialis acquisition furthers "our strategy to deliver software solutions that optimize the laboratory-to-commercialization value chain."
The entire Vialis team will transfer over to Accelrys and will focus its attention on the Accelrys Process Management and Compliance Suite, developed to improve product and process insight, facilitate collaboration, and streamline product development. The suite includes the Accelrys Electronic Laboratory Notebook, Acccelrys Laboratory Execution System, Acclerys Electronic Batch Records, Accelrys Enterprise Platform, and the Accelrys Discoverant solution acquired with Aegis.