Cell culture and gene modulation technology, as well as magnetic beads used protein analysis and medical diagnostics, are included in GE's $1.06 billion acquisition of life science business lines from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
GE announced Monday that the product offering additions will allow GE Healthcare to develop "end-to-end" technologies for cell biology research, cell therapy, and the manufacture of innovative medicines and vaccines.
Buying Thermo Fisher's Sera-Mag magnetic beads product line enables GE to extend its existing technologies in protein analysis and medical diagnostics. The Sera-Mag beads have a high surface area per unit mass and slow settling rate with good lot-to-lot reproducibility, according to Thermo Fisher's website.
Sera-Mag Magnetic SpeedBeads, as shown on Thermo Fisher's website
Combined, the three Thermo Fisher businesses brought in about $250 million in revenue in 2013. The deal is expected to close in the first half of the year.
GE Healthcare already has a $4 billion Life Sciences business that delivers products and services for the fast-growing diagnostics, research and biopharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.
"This deal makes a good business even better and will help us realize our vision of bringing better healthcare to more people at lower cost," says John Dineen, president and CEO of GE Healthcare.