Sartorius to buy virus quantification specialist ViroCyt

Sartorius has agreed a deal to purchase Colorado-based ViroCyt, an innovator in the field of rapid virus quantification.

The acquisition expands the bioanalytical portfolio of Sartorius' lab products and services division, while also helping ViroCyt to deliver its various innovations to a broader range of customers worldwide.

ViroCyt offers a unique automated platform integrating instruments, software and reagents, providing high-quality results significantly faster than commonly used methods for virus counting.

It primarily serves customers in the pharmaceutical and biopharma sectors, as well as vaccine manufacturers and academic institutes focused on virology. The takeover deal has been valued at $16 million (12.04 million pounds).

Michael Melingo, member of Sartorius' executive committee, said: "We are now adding a further very innovative bioanalytical tool to our lab products and services portfolio that will enable our customers to obtain lab results much faster and reduce the time to clinic for virus-based pharmaceuticals."

This follows the company's recent acquisition of IntelliCyt, as well as the purchase of kSep by the Sartorius Stedim Biotech business earlier this month.