Women’s health-focused Hologic is buying molecular diagnostics provider Gen-Probe for $3.7 billion in cash. Adding Gen-Probe’s automated instrument platforms gives Hologic critical mass in the molecular diagnostics market while allowing it to maintain its core focus on women’s health. Hologic’s international direct sales force and dealer network can further drive adoption of US-oriented Gen-Probe’s tests in both developed and emerging markets. It also gives Gen-Probe a much greater capability for selling to physicians as well as labs, filling a second significant gap in Gen-Probe’s marketing.
A year ago, Novartis AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Danaher Corp., and Life Technologies Corp. were rumored suitors for molecular diagnostics provider Gen-Probe Inc. Gen-Probe is indeed turning itself over, but to women’s health-focused Hologic Inc., a supplier of diagnostics, imaging and surgical products. Hologic, roughly half the size of any of those others and barely larger than Gen-Probe itself, appears to be a good fit.
Adding Gen-Probe’s automated instrument platforms gives Hologic critical mass in the molecular diagnostics market while allowing it to maintain its...