Global pharma major Merck KGaA has acquired Bangalore Genei (India) Private Ltd by its wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, Merck Specialties Pvt Ltd.

Bangalore Genei (India) Private Ltd (BGIP) founded by Dr Padmanabhan Babu in 1989 and acquired by the leading south India-based chemical major Sanmar Group, Chennai in December 2003. Now Merck bought over from the Sanmar Speciality Chemicals Limited (SSCL). No financial details were disclosed.

By combining BGIP's activities with Merck's existing bioscience business, Merck will become one of the leading bioscience companies in India, a release issued here said.

The Bangalore-based company BGIP specializes in the development, production, marketing and sales of products for proteomic and genomic research. With more than 100 employees, the company generated a total revenue of Rs 20.2 crore in FY 09, the release said.

In 2001, during an interaction with Pharmabiz, Dr P Babu, the founder of the company said that the focus was to develop tools for genetic engineering research such as restriction enzymes, modifying enzymes, DNA markers etc.

Further in December 2003, in an interaction with Pharmabiz MS Sekhar, head Sanmar Speciality Chemicals Limited said that Bangalore Genei expertise in biotechnology and would complement the existing and growing chemistry research activities to enter into molecular biology and biotechnology research services.

Merck's bioscience business' global head, Christina Shasserre, said, "'BGIP's leadership in the Indian academic market, a segment with high-growth potential, will ideally complement our existing customer base. BGIP's product portfolio comprises a wide range of bioscience products, which are tailored to the needs of the domestic market in India."