Abbott announces acquisition of STARLIMS Technologies

Abbott has announced its plans to acquire STARLIMS Technologies – a firm specialising in laboratory information management systems.

The sale will see Abbott pay a total of $123 million (75.7 million pounds) in cash, as the pharmaceutical company anticipates that the move will help to strengthen its position in the global diagnostics marketplace.

It will enable the company to provide advanced web-based applications to help laboratories store, retrieve and analyse volumes of clinical, managerial and administrative data.

Edward Michael, executive vice-president of diagnostics products at Abbott, commented: “STARLIMS’ advanced web-based technologies can help our customers operate efficiently across the core laboratory, molecular and point-of care segments of the global diagnostics market.”

In other Abbott news, last week the firm announced the submission of an application with the Food and Drug Administration for the approval of SIMCOR (niacin extended-release/simvastatin).

The company is seeking FDA approval for new 500/40 mg and 1000/40 mg doses of the drug.