Millipore extends global reach

08/01/2005

BILLERICA, Mass. - Just a few miles down Route 3 from Brooks Automation, Millipore Corp. (www.millipore.com) has also been busy strengthening its global presence, acquiring a prominent aseptic-processing-tool developer in Sweden and a biotech contract-testing lab in the Netherlands.

In a cash transaction valued at $91 million (U.S.), Millipore acquired NovAseptic AB (www.novaseptic.com) and its patented NovaSeptum disposable sampling system, which has been adopted by several biotech and pharmaceutical companies to take fluid samples from their manufacturing processes. The new, fully closed system is designed to eliminate the risk of false positives due to biological contaminants, and is said to greatly improve operator productivity and safety.

“As part of our growth strategy, the acquisition accelerates our plan to expand the breadth of our solutions to biotech and pharmaceutical customers, particularly in the areas of high-performance components and process-monitoring tools,” says Millipore Chairman, CEO and President Martin Madaus. “The talented scientists and engineers at NovAseptic enhance our already strong applications expertise in the area of aseptic processing.”

Noting that his company had been searching for a strong business partner through which to expand its technologies, Johan Westman, managing director of NovAseptic, says, “We are both active in process sampling and monitoring, and in critical bioprocessing components. The product lines are complementary and, most importantly, we share a vision of the industry future and the role we can play.”

Two days earlier, in a $9.3 million deal, Millipore strengthened its growing services business by acquiring MicroSafe BV-a contract laboratory that develops assays and provides a range of testing services to leading European biotech and pharmaceutical companies. The company’s services include monitoring for quality and compliance in the drug-manufacturing process.

Millipore’s Madaus says of MicroSafe: “They...have the expertise that will help us expand the scope of service we offer to our biotech and pharmaceutical customers, particularly in the area of virus and mycoplasma testing. Their application knowledge will also help us accelerate development of products and systems for rapid process monitoring.”

Fathia Methnani, managing director of MicroSafe BV, will continue to direct operations for the 30 employees based in Leiden, Netherlands.