Fluidigm Corporation, a US-based maker of microfluidic systems, has agreed to acquire DVS Sciences, a Canada-based maker of bioanalytical solutions, for $207.5m in cash and stock. DVS Sciences has been backed by both Pfizer Venture Investments and Roche Venture Fund, the corporate venturing units of drugs companies Pfizer and Roche, which joined DVS Sciences’ $14.6m series A round in 2011. The transaction is expected to close in February 2014.
Fluidigm states that the aim of the deal is “to create a single-cell technology powerhouse. Combined with DVS, Fluidigm will be able to offer a comprehensive portfolio of advanced technologies serving the rapidly growing single-cell genomics and proteomics markets.”
Gajus Worthington, Fluidigm president and chief executive officer, said: “DVS’s mass cytometry technology combines the advantages of high-throughput flow cytometry with the accuracy and resolution of mass spectrometry, enabling high-parameter single-cell protein analysis. We believe the acquisition of DVS will increase Fluidigm’s single-cell revenue immediately, as well as increase our addressable market to include the approximately $300 million high-end research flow cytometry segment. It also expands our analytical breadth to include single-cell protein analysis.”
Dr. Scott Tanner, DVS’s chief technology officer and co-founder, said: “We are delighted to join Fluidigm to champion the power of single-cell analysis and help pave the way for future breakthrough discoveries in biology.”