Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, has acquired Open Biosystems, Inc., a provider of RNA interference (RNAi), gene expression and protein detection products for life science research and drug discovery and development. The acquisition significantly expands Thermo Fisher Scientific's leadership position in the growing RNAi field.
RNA interference is a method for blocking, or silencing, the expression of genes to study their function and to develop therapies targeting genes that may cause disease.
Open Biosystems, which is based in Huntsville, Alabama, specializes in short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) and viral-vector systems for delivering shRNA into living cells. The company offers complete shRNA libraries for the entire human and mouse genomes. Correspondingly, Thermo Fisher Scientific is a leader in small-interfering RNA (siRNA), sold through its Thermo Scientific Dharmacon line. Together, shRNA and siRNA represent the two most widely used RNAi platforms.
The acquisition of Open Biosystems further strengthens our market-leading position in synthetic RNAi products with highly complementary technologies based on advanced shRNA, said Marijn E. Dekkers, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. This combination brings together leading technologies for analyzing gene function, allowing us to create a powerful tool set for our customers who are performing cutting-edge life science research.
In addition to its RNAi business, Open Biosystems offers extensive collections of complementary DNA (cDNA) and open reading frame (ORF) vectors for gene expression, as well as custom antibody services for detection of changes in cellular protein levels. Open Biosystems, which had annual revenues of approximately $14 million in 2007, will be integrated into Thermo Fisher's Analytical Technologies Segment.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With annual revenues of $10 billion, we have more than 30,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings.
Open Biosystems, Inc. develops manufactures and markets genomic research tools to scientists and researchers in corporate, academic and government laboratories. These research tools provide investigators with standardized high-quality genes, RNAi and antibodies for interrogating gene function in relation to oncology, neuroscience and metabolic disorders.