Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) has signed an agreement to acquire GeneOhm Sciences Inc., a privately held company headquartered in San Diego, California that has pioneered the development of molecular diagnostic testing for the rapid detection of bacterial organisms, including those known to cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

GeneOhm Sciences' revenues for the year 2005 were approximately $5 million and provide BD with expanded entry into the emerging HAI market. Today, nearly 6 million HAIs occur annually across the US, Europe and Japan, and are implicated in up to an estimated 90,000 deaths per year in the US alone.

According to a company release, BD has agreed to pay $230 million, plus up to $25 million in additional incentives, for the company. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of March 2006

GeneOhm Sciences is developing nucleic acid-based assay systems providing rapid results to help transform patient care. The company's IDI-MRSA and IDI-Strep B tests are FDA cleared and provide an innovative, extremely accurate, and rapid format for these critical tests. MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a 'super bug' known to cause HAIs, and Group B Strep is a health threat to pregnant women and their children during the latter stages of pregnancy.

"A key element of BD's strategy is driving revenue growth through innovation. This transaction aligns innovative new technologies with BD's existing business strategies and is a natural complement to our core strengths and leadership position in clinical microbiology," stated Edward J. Ludwig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of BD.

"This agreement represents a significant step forward in BD Diagnostics' strategy to play a leading role in the evolution of molecular diagnostics, and it positions us to become a leader in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. We believe the molecular opportunities for microbiology will grow at attractive rates for the foreseeable future," said William A. Kozy, president, BD Diagnostics.

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products.