Roche buys U.S. gene sequencing tech company Stratos Genomics

[May 22, 2020]  ZURICH (Reuters) - Pharmaceutical group Roche <ROG.S> has acquired U.S.-based Stratos Genomics to further develop DNA-based sequencing for diagnostic use, it said on Friday.

General view of the Roche building in Welwyn Garden City, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Welwyn Garden City, Britain, May 14, 2020. REUTERS/Paul Childs

"The acquisition provides Roche access to Stratos Genomics unique chemistry, Sequencing by Expansion," the Swiss drug maker said in a statement. "The Roche nanopore sequencer, once developed, will utilise a novel approach that combines electronic and biological components to sequence DNA for fast, flexible and cost-effective clinical diagnostic testing."

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; editing by Thomas Seythal)

[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.