Roche has signed a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of the TIB Molbiol Group, which specializes in ultra-rapid assay development for emerging infectious diseases.
Roche expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Roche said the acquisition of the TIB Molbiol Group will enhance Roche’s portfolio of molecular diagnostics solutions with a range of assays for infectious diseases, such as the identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants. TIB Molbiol’s portfolio includes 45 CE-IVD assays and more than 100 research use assays. The tests are already available on Roche’s installed base of LightCycler PCR systems and MagNA Pure sample preparation systems.
Roche said the two companies have collaborated for more than 20 years on such diseases as SARS, anthrax, avian influenza virus H5N1, MERS, the novel influenza virus H1N1 swine, Ebola virus, Zika virus and most recently, SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants.
“With this acquisition, we can expand our offering of tests of existing pathogens and our response to emerging pathogens and potential health threats,” said Thomas Schinecker, CEO Roche Diagnostics.
