AstraZeneca to Acquire Biomarker Technology Company Definiens

AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune,has agreed to acquire Definiens, a privately held company with proprietary imaging and data analysis technology, called Tissue Phenomics, which improves the identification of biomarkers in tumor tissue, for $150 million. The deal also includes additional predetermined milestone payments. Definiens, which is headquartered in Munich, Germany, will continue to operate its business with third-party customers.

Definiens' proprietary Cognition Network Technology was developed by Professor Gerd Binnig, the 1986 Nobel Laureate in Physics, and uses information from cancer tissue samples by measuring the identity, locations and, the relationships between the many and varied components of the complex tumor microenvironment. The acquisition will strengthen MedImmune's focus on the discovery of novel predictive biomarkers in immuno-oncology.

The proposed transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Source: AstraZeneca

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