BioMerieux reports growth in first half of 2011

BioMerieux has confirmed its financial results for the first half of 2011, a period that saw the company experience a 3.5 percent year-on-year growth in sales.

During the first six months of the year, the life sciences firm generated a sales total of 673 million euros (579.5 million pounds), while its gross profit and operating income figures also saw improvements.

The half-year period saw BioMerieux complete its acquisition of the industrial microbiological control specialist AES Laboratoire, while also agreeing a deal to take over molecular diagnostics firm Argene.

It was also able to improve its market status by introducing ten new products, including BioNexia rapid tests and the Vitek MS bacterial identification system.

Jean-Luc Belingard, chairman and chief executive officer of BioMerieux, said: "Our long-term vision is unchanged and we will continue to implement our ambitious strategy focused on innovation and targeted acquisitions, while actively pursuing our research and development programmes."

In July 2011, the company's BioTheranostics division published new data from a clinical study that supports the efficacy of its new molecular classification system CancerType ID.