Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Thermo Fisher boosts RNAi line with Open Biosystems purchase

By Mass High Tech Staff

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has made a big push further into the hot RNA-interference (RNAi) space with the purchase of Open Biosystems Inc. for an undisclosed amount.

Open Biosystems, which is based in Huntsville, Ala., is a provider of RNAi, gene expression and protein detection products for life science research and drug discovery and development. The company specializes in short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) and viral-vector systems for delivering shRNA into living cells. Waltham-based Thermo Fisher (NYSE: TMO) already has a business in small-interfering RNA (siRNA), sold through its Thermo Scientific Dharmacon line.

In 2004, prior to the merger between Thermo Electron Corp. and Fisher Scientific International Inc., Fisher bought Colorado-based Dharmacon Inc. for $80 million.

Thermo Fisher will integrate Open Biosystems into Thermo Fisher’s Analytical Technologies segment, according to officials. Open Biosystems had annual revenue of approximately $14 million in 2007.

With 33,000 workers worldwide, Thermo Fisher reported 2007 net income of $761.1 million on revenue of $9.7 billion.