Malvern Instruments Ltd has entered into an agreement with GE Healthcare Life Sciences to acquire the company’s MicroCal microcalorimetry business.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to complete in the third quarter of 2014.
MicroCal has a 30-year history of developing and supplying easy-to-use microcalorimeters. These systems are used extensively to study proteins and other biomolecules in drug discovery and development.
MicroCal differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) and isothermal titration calorimeters (ITC) are used in areas from basic research to the discovery and development of small molecules, biotherapeutics and vaccines.
Microcalorimetry provides information on the structure, function and binding properties of biomolecules
Microcalorimetry provides detailed information on the structure, function and binding properties of a wide range of biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and antibodies. The growing trend towards structure-based drug design together with the expansion in biopharmaceutical development is driving an increase in the use of microcalorimetry as a standard technique in pharmaceutical research.
The acquisition of MicroCal will further strengthen Malvern’s rapidly expanding portfolio of analytical solutions for customers in core pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical markets. Within Malvern, MicroCal will retain its key location in Northampton, Massachusetts and will become an integral part of the Malvern business.
Paul Walker, Managing Director of Malvern Instruments, said: “Microcalorimetry is now an essential tool that is used at almost every stage of the drug discovery, development and formulation process. MicroCal is an established technology leader in the field. MicroCal products are an excellent fit with Malvern’s existing portfolio of measurement solutions for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.”
