Roche Gains Niche in Molecular Diagnostics Market With IQuum Buy

Roche’s acquisition of Marlborough, Mass.-based assay maker IQuum gives the Swiss healthcare giant an entry into the point-of-care segment of molecular diagnostics, the company said Monday.

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will give IQuum’s shareholders $275 million upfront and up to $175 million in product-related milestones. Once the deal is closed, IQuum and its employees will be integrated into Roche Molecular Diagnostics, where Roche will have access to IQuum’s Laboratory-in-a-tube, or Liat, system.

The system consists of the Liat Analyzer and the Influenza A/B Assay — the first test available for use on the system. Both are FDA-cleared and CE-marked and are intended for use as a moderate complexity test in CLIA-certified laboratories in hospitals and other near-patient settings, IQuum says.

Roland Diggelmann, chief operating officer at Roche, said IQuum will help to strengthen Roche’s molecular diagnostics offerings with products like Liat, which provides quick and accurate diagnosis on-site, allowing for rapid treatment decisions. — Lena Freund

Subscribe to Devices & Diagnostics Letter for complete coverage of the medical devices industry. Click here for more information.