SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Cell
Biosciences, Inc. today announced that it has acquired Brightwell
Technologies, Inc. of Ottawa, Ontario for approximately U.S. $9
million in cash.
Brightwell Technologies is the market leader in Micro-Flow
Imaging (MFI), an analytical technique used to detect particles and
aggregates in protein-based therapeutics. Because of high interest
in protein aggregation expressed by the FDA and other regulatory
agencies, Brightwell’s MFI products have experienced widespread
adoption by the world’s largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies. Brightwell was founded in 2001 and employs approximately
30 people at its headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. Brightwell’s 2011
revenues are expected to be approximately U.S. $5 million.
The acquisition of Brightwell Technologies significantly
strengthens Cell Biosciences’ position in the high-growth protein
therapeutics market. Cell Biosciences entered that market in
October 2010, with the acquisition of Convergent Bioscience.
Convergent’s products for protein characterization are used by
virtually every major producer of protein therapeutics. Because
Brightwell’s MFI products are targeted at the same customer set,
this transaction is expected to fuel additional market penetration
for both product lines.
Commenting on the transaction, Tim Harkness, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Cell Biosciences, said, “Brightwell’s MFI
platform holds the leading position in an important emerging
market, and represents a great strategic fit with existing Cell
Biosciences products. This is our fourth acquisition in 18 months
and it represents another important step in our plan to build a
highly focused and differentiated protein analysis pure-play.”
Peter Moore, President of Brightwell Technologies, added, “We
are extremely pleased to be joining Cell Biosciences. This
transaction creates exciting opportunities for our people, and the
cultural fit between
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