3M takes over Acolyte Biomedica
It looks like the giant US company 3M has just taken over the British Biomedical firm “Acolyte Biomedica” which makes microbial detection technology.
According to sources at 3M, the acquisition will help its expansion into the market for infection prevention diagnostics.
One of the firm’s major products is a rapid test system that helps hospitals screen for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), a type of bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics and occurs most frequently in hospital patients who have weakened immune systems.
The system lets physicians screen for MRSA or other types of resistant bacteria and get confirmed negatives in hours instead of days. This acquisition adds to the purchase of Biotrace in 2006 has a similar type of technology. Interestingly Biotrace also recently took over the popular Australian Biotechnology company, TECRA. TECRA is one of the world leaders in rapid tests kits for pathogen testing the food industry.
Here’s what they write in the press release:
“Early detection of dangerous microbes is becoming more important as multiple resistant bacteria strains become more prevalent. Acolyte Biomedica helps hospitals control high-risk infections through improved screening and targeted treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and occurs most frequently in hospital patients who have weakened immune systems.
Acolyte Biomedica brings to 3M’s infection prevention platform a pipeline of rapid culture-based screening tests for microbes, such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), that simplify the diagnostic process by automating traditional culture methodology resulting in reliable confirmed ‘negatives’ in hours rather than days. The addition of Acolyte Biomedica allows 3M to expand more quickly into the
emerging market of infection prevention diagnostics, especially in Europe where Acolyte Biomedica has commercialized product for MRSA. Now, 3M will be able to provide customers around the world with rapid, easy-to-use microbial diagnostics that help to reduce the impact of resistant microbes and improve hospital laboratory efficiency.
“This acquisition builds on 3M’s innovative research and development in the medical diagnostics area and is a natural extension of our core infection prevention business,†said Chuck Kummeth, division vice president, 3M Medical Division. “Our vision is to continue expanding our platform to include diagnostic solutions ranging from simple, culture-based approaches to more advanced molecular diagnostics that will help hospitals to improve the quality of patient care.â€
Complementary acquisitions such as this support both 3M’s core business and growth strategy to expand into adjacent markets. 3M’s long-standing infection prevention platform offers innovative solutions to help reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. 3M’s infection prevention portfolio includes diagnostic testing, sterilization assurance, skin preparation, sterile field and surface, wound management and environmental cleaning.”
