bioMérieux Acquires Hyglos and Expands Its Offering to the Detection of Endotoxins in Pharmaceutical Products
June 01 2016 - 1:00AM
Business Wire
Regulatory News:
bioMérieux (Paris:BIM), a global player in in vitro diagnostics
and world leader in industrial microbiological control, announces
the acquisition of Hyglos, a Bernried (Germany) - based company
specializing in the detection of endotoxins. Founded in 2009,
Hyglos has a unique and recognized expertise in the development and
production of recombinant proteins used for the detection of
endotoxins in pharmaceutical products.
Endotoxins are a component of the outer membrane of certain
Gram-negative bacteria. They are pyrogenic substances, i.e. they
cause high fevers. Pharmacopoeial standards require that this type
of substance be absent from pharmaceutical products that come into
contact with the bloodstream or the central nervous system such
as injectable drugs or medical devices. It is also recommended
that the endotoxins be quantified in raw materials such as water,
or work-in-process materials.
Today, endotoxin detection relies on the use of reagents
developed based on a purified blood fraction taken from a horseshoe
crab (Limulidae), a family of crab endangered in Asia and protected
in the United States and whose blood has the ability to coagulate
in the presence of minute amounts of bacterial endotoxins.
Hyglos has developed an innovative method from recombinant
proteins, which eliminates the need for horseshoe crab blood and
thus allows for the detection of the presence of endotoxins using a
chain of completely standardized reactions. Moreover, when certain
formulations are used in the manufacturing of biotechnological
medicines, they can hide or "mask" endotoxins; Hyglos has developed
a unique and original technology for "demasking" endotoxins, i.e.
making endotoxin detection possible, even in such cases.
“Hyglos’ expertise in the field of recombinant proteins opens
new horizons for the detection of endotoxins. True to our
pioneering spirit, we are convinced of the relevance of its
innovative method. Its existing product portfolio has enriched our
offering of microbiological control solutions for the
pharmaceutical industry and medical devices", states Nicolas
Cartier, Head of bioMérieux's Industry Unit.
Dr. Wolfgang Mutter, Managing Director of Hyglos, adds: “We are
very pleased to join bioMérieux. Its global leadership in
industrial microbiological control and the scope of its commercial
network creates promising perspectives that allow pharmaceutical
manufacturers to benefit from the scientific and technical
soundness of the products that we have developed for reliable and
efficient endotoxin detection.”
The endotoxin detection market is today estimated at €250
million, an increase of around 12% per year1, particularly
supported by the growth in the volume of drugs derived from
biotechnology, medical devices and vaccines.
The total consideration paid by bioMérieux to acquire 100% of
Hyglos shares will amount to €24 million, phased over the next 3
years. The transaction was closed on May 31, 2016.
Hyglos will be consolidated in the Group’s financial statements
from June 1st, 2016.
About bioMérieux
Pioneering Diagnostics
A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics
for 50 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries
through 42 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In
2015, revenues reached €1,965 million with 90% of sales outside of
France.
bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments,
software) which determine the source of disease and contamination
to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products
are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases. They are also
used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and
cosmetic products.
bioMérieux is listed on the Euronext Paris market(Symbol:
BIM – ISIN: FR0010096479).Corporate
website: www.biomerieux.comInvestor
website: www.biomerieux-finance.com
1 Source: Markets and Markets, 2015 ; data from internal
surveys.
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Investor RelationsbioMérieuxSylvain Morgeau, + 33
(0)4 78 87 22 37investor.relations@biomerieux.comorMedia
RelationsbioMérieuxAurore Sergeant, + 33 4 78 87 54
75media@biomerieux.comorImage SeptLaurence Heilbronn, + 33 1
53 70 74 64lheilbronn@image7.frorClaire Doligez, + 33 1 53 70 74
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