Agilent / Affymetrix Duel on the Informatics Turf
Agilent to Acquire Informatics Company Scientific Software for Undisclosed Amount
By a GenomeWeb News reporter
NEW YORK, May 25 - Agilent Technologies plans to acquire informatics company Scientific Software for an undisclosed sum, the company said today.
The deal would give Agilent one of the largest installed bases of chromatographic data systems -- SSI has more than 120,000 installations - and a broad portfolio of laboratory informatics software in the life science and chemical industries.
The acquisition would enable Agilent to provide a "family" of software products that "addresses the complete life cycle of analytical information, from data acquisition to knowledge management and retention."
Agilent did not say when it expects the acquisition to close, but the spokesperson said it will likely take one month
posted by Dr. Andras J. Pellionisz at 12:55 PM
1 Comments:
The "info-gap" in the Post Gene Era is rapidly closing in a wave of M/A. On one hand, even "big league" joined Genomics from an "info-angle" (General Electric plunged in; in the near future not only automatic washing machines but automatic genome sequencing machines will be a huge business).
On the other hand, the "bio" Companies (such as Affymetrix and Agilent) that have already proven technology (in this case, microarrays, with Affy holding 40% of the market and Agilent 30%) are neck-to-neck with each other, just like GM/Ford or Coca-Cola/Pepsi-Cola.
Affy has the Intellectual Property edge of almost 400 patents, while Agilent is an almost 4 times bigger company.
Clearly, the "high ground" on which the duel will be decided is Information Technology (especially if an IP-portfolio and immunity against GTG is secured).
Viable Full Genome Information Technology early stage companies are already approached by some of those dozens of "microarray companies" that elbow one another in the remainder of 30% market share.
1:09 PM
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