Roche to acquire Kapa Biosystems
To strengthen its next-generation sequencing product offerings
Swiss drugmaker Roche is to buy Kapa Biosystems, a US gene technology company, for an undisclosed sum.
Kapa’s proprietary protein engineering technology allows for the generation and screening of large numbers of enzyme variants used for next-generation sequencing (NGS), as well as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR applications.
The Wilmington, MA-based company's portfolio of NGS reagents includes enzymes such as novel DNA polymerases, with the potential to improve the performance of the entire sequencing workflow.
'This acquisition builds on Roche’s commitment to develop a differentiated NGS portfolio that will provide our customers with a complete genetic testing solution,' said Roland Diggelmann, COO Roche Diagnostics Division. 'Kapa’s technology and products complement our current expertise and offerings such as the portfolio of target enrichment products for NGS.'
'Joining Roche provides us access to their broad product portfolio, global reach and clinical expertise that will accelerate our strategy of offering comprehensive NGS workflow solutions to more laboratories around the world,' added Paul McEwan, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Kapa Biosystems.