PerkinElmer Acquires Improvision

PerkinElmer Inc., a Waltham, Mass., developer of technology for the health-science and photonics industries, announced this week it has acquired Improvision Ltd., of Coventry, England, in a cash transaction. Details were not disclosed.

Improvision, a provider of cellular imaging software and hardware used in life sciences research, reportedly had revenue of approximately £6 million (about $12 million) in 2006. Perkin Elmer said the acquisition strengthens its position in advanced cellular sciences and will enable it to provide cell biologists and researchers with the ability to more efficiently manage data from high-content screening (HCS) and advanced confocal microscopy applications.

Gregory L. Summe, chairman and CEO of PerkinElmer, said, "PerkinElmer now provides pharmaceutical and academic researchers with a single source for imaging and analysis solutions that will help increase their understanding of disease mechanisms at the cellular level, potentially speeding the development of new therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and cancer."

Improvision's flagship product is Volocity, 3-D and 4-D imaging software that complements PerkinElmer's UltraView live-cell imaging system used with live biological samples, including cultured cells, tissues and embryos. Improvision also develops software and hardware for microscopy systems control and data analysis.

PerkinElmer said it will integrate and provide support for the product portfolios of Improvision and Evotec Technologies, which it acquired last year (see also PerkinElmer Acquiring German Company for $30M). It now offers Evotec Technologies' Opera high-content screening platform, which combines confocal microscopy with throughput required for primary and secondary screening. Improvision said it will continue, at present, to provide sales and technical support for its products.

For more information, visit: www.perkinelmer.com