FLORENCE, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Menarini Group, a privately held Italian pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, today announced it has acquired Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A., a provider of specialized molecular and cellular biology technologies capable of recovering and analyzing tumor cells from blood samples. Silicon Biosystems’ DEPArray™ and Ampli1™ genomic analysis technologies are being used in clinical research to advance the development of cancer diagnostics and accelerate the age of precision medicine through personalized therapies. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
“The acquisition of Silicon Biosystems represents a unique opportunity for the Menarini Group to add an innovative high-tech company to our existing pharmaceutical and biotechnology programs in oncology,” said Lucia Aleotti, Chairman of the Menarini Group. “We are excited by the high potential of Silicon Biosystems’ technology, and the possibility we will have to dramatically impact patients’ lives.”
The acquisition presents Silicon Biosystems with the opportunity to capitalize on the infrastructure and business synergies within the Menarini Group and obtain the support and resources needed to continue developing the technologies and expand their use to clinical markets. While the acquisition complements other Menarini Group ventures, including its existing diagnostics businesses and its pharmaceutical and biotechnology research programs, Silicon Biosystems is expected to operate as a stand-alone entity.
“This is really an achievement for Silicon Biosystems and a great opportunity to further develop our technology to elucidate the biology of cancer with the goal of improving health care and patients’ lives,” said Giuseppe Giorgini, President and CEO of Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A. “All of us are really proud to be part of the Menarini Group and keen to apply our technological advantages to support customers and expand the business.”
About the Menarini Group
The Menarini Group is a
privately-held Italian pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with a
proud 125-year history of delivering therapeutic, diagnostic, and
medical device products to global healthcare markets. The Group has
built a strong international business and proudly claims 75% of its
revenues coming from outside its home market.
The research programs for the Group are addressing the medical needs in cardiovascular diseases, oncology and the asthma/pain/inflammation areas, primarily with a focus on the study of receptor antagonists. Menarini Biotech offers a secure, compliant and cost effective partner in the development and manufacture of biologic medicines derived from mammalian or microbial hosts.
Menarini Diagnostics has more than three decades dedicated to exceeding the technological needs of Europe’s most prominent healthcare professionals in the fields of cell pathology, diabetes, autoimmunity, etc.
About Silicon Biosystems
Silicon Biosystems, S.p.A. based in
Bologna, Italy manufactures and sells the DEPArray™ platform which is
based on the principle of dielectrophoresis to isolate and manipulate
cells in suspension with a microelectronic array. The approach, patented
by Silicon Biosystems, offers the unique ability to control individual
cells and micro-particles inside a disposable cartridge. The DEPArray™
platform makes it possible to find, sort, select and separate individual
cells for further analysis or culturing. For more information on Silicon
Biosystems visit http://www.siliconbiosystems.com.
