The acquisition of Cytognos enables BD to expand its portfolio of blood cancer diagnostics, immune assessment tests and informatics to better meet patient, clinician and care provider requirements, apart from further strengthening its 12-year collaboration with EuroFlow

blood test

The acquisition of Cytognos enables BD to expand its portfolio of blood cancer diagnostics and immune assessment tests. (Credit: Belova59 from Pixabay)

Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) has wrapped up the acquisition of Spain-based clinical flow cytometry solutions provider Cytognos from Vitro for an undisclosed sum.

Based in Salamanca, Cytognos offers flow cytometry solutions for blood cancer diagnosis, minimal residual disease (MRD) detection and immune monitoring research for blood diseases.

The acquisition of Cytognos enables BD to expand its portfolio of blood cancer diagnostics, immune assessment tests and informatics to better meet patient, clinician and care provider requirements.

In addition, BD to have an exclusive access to advanced assays licenced from the EuroFlow Consortium that includes scientists and researchers from over 20 European universities and hospitals working in the fields of haematology and immunology.

BD is also having existing licence agreements with EuroFlow for multiple other assays. The addition of Cytognos assays will further advance BD’s 12-year licencing collaboration with EuroFlow.

BD Biosciences worldwide president Puneet Sarin said: “Cytognos’ capabilities are complementary to those already developed by BD scientists to screen for the most common blood cancers and will enable BD to expand beyond cancer discovery and diagnosis into the monitoring phase of the patient’s journey.

“We’re building on our strong track record of identifying and executing on opportunities and then integrating those new products and businesses into our portfolio.”

Cytognos’ crucial products are said to increase BD’s portfolio of diagnostic and research solutions for certain types of cancers, which use flow cytometry as the primary source for discovery, diagnosis and understanding.

The cancers consist of lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma.

Cytognos IVD products, which are CE marked, are marketed only in Europe and other countries where regulatory approval was granted. Its products are not yet available in the US.

The company also offers various research assays for multiple myeloma MRD and immune monitoring.

Under the deal, around 80 employees from Cytognos will join BD.

In December last year, BD closed its acquisition of smartphone-backed at-home tests provider Scanwell Health.