NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) — ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim has acquired molecular diagnostics developer Lumora for an undisclosed amount, the companies said today.
Following the acquisition, Lumora's molecular diagnostics technology for the clinical and industrial sectors will be merged with ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim's existing worldwide in vitro diagnostic testing business covering a wide range of market segments, the companies said.
ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim specifically expands its portfolio to include molecular testing for hospital-acquired infections and emerging market-specific infectious diseases, such as HIV and respiratory disease. The company will also work to further commercialize Lumora's RapidMag nucleic acid extraction technology and BART (bioluminescent assay in real time) reporter system for isothermal amplification.
"Lumora has a strong portfolio of molecular technologies in growing areas which will complement our existing business," Suresh Vazirani, chairman and managing director of ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim, said in a statement. "In addition, Lumora's excellent commercial partnerships can be used to further expand ERBA Diagnostic Mannheim' global business."
In 2013 Lumora inked a supply agreement with Promega regarding the BART technology, and last year Lumora signed an agreement with New England Biolabs under which NEB is manufacturing and supplying a polymerase for the BART technology and supporting reagents for Lumora's MDx technologies.
Last month, Roche said it had signed a definitive asset purchase agreement for Lumora's sample prep technology for sequencing.