Roche has hit the acquisition trail again to buy privately-held Signature Diagnostics of Germany.
The Potsdam-based firm is a translational oncology and genomics company that develops large blood plasma and tissue biobanks in multiple cancers, including colorectal and lung. Signature uses the samples from its biobanks along with accompanying clinical progression and genetic data to develop and validate circulating cell free DNA (cfDNA) tests.
Roche says these tests have the potential to advance non-invasive treatment response monitoring for patients with cancer. Roland Diggelmann, head of its diagnostics unit, stated that biobanks play an important role in aiding translational research and the development of personalised therapies for patients.
He added that Signature “represents a unique bridge between high value cancer biobanks and next generation sequencing (NGS) assay development”. The German group will be integrated into Roche Sequencing Unit, which has grown through the recent acquisitions of Bina Technologies and Genia Technologies.
Financial terms have not been disclosed.
