SAN DIEGO—Illumina, Inc. has announced the acquisition ofMorrisville, N.C.-based Advanced Liquid Logic, a liquid handling solutionsprovider. Following the transaction, Advanced Liquid Logic is now a whollyowned subsidiary of Illumina. No financial details for the transaction weredisclosed.
Advanced Liquid Logic has developed proprietary "digitalmicrofluidics" technology based on electrowetting that can manipulate smalldroplets within a sealed disposable cartridge to perform complex laboratoryprotocols. With this technology, the company has developed methods for avariety of bioassay protocols making use of microfluidics, including qPCR,RT-qPCR, DNA sequencing with a sequencing-by-synthesis method, samplepreparation from a range of different sample types, fragment librarypreparation for next-generation sequencing and protein analysis utilizingenzymatic and immunoassay techniques. Advanced Liquid Logic's offerings providea new method for precise handling of low sample volumes.
"For our research customers, ALL's technology will furtherstreamline the industry's simplest NGS workflow, while for clinical and appliedmarkets, where ease of use and consistency are especially valued, it will allowus to offer integrated, end-to-end solutions," Christian Henry, senior vicepresident and general manager of Illumina's Genomic Solutions business, said ina press release. "ALL brings an impressive IP portfolio in digitalmicrofluidics and a talented team with a track record of innovation."
Advanced Liquid Logic is also working on a unit forlysosomal storage enzyme analysis. The LSD-100, a bioassay automation platformthat can simultaneously perform four enzymatic activity assays on 40 driedblood spot extracts along with four controls and four calibrators. The unit isa bench-top instrument with a small space footprint that combines speed andcost-effectiveness for users analyzing lysosomal storage enzyme activity indried blood spot extracts. The LSD-100 is meant for research use only, and isnot intended for use in diagnostic procedures.
This transaction is the second notable acquisition made byIllumina so far this year, following its acquisition of Verinata Health, Inc.,a provider of non-invasive tests for early identification of fetal chromosomalabnormalities, in February. Like Advanced Liquid Logic, Verinata is now awholly owned Illumina subsidiary.
Illumina announced its Q2 financial results the same day asits acquisition of Advanced Liquid Logic, and adjusted its financial guidancefor fiscal year 2013. The company saw revenue of $346 million for the quarter,up 23 percent over the $281 million reported in the same quarter last year.GAAP net income was $36 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, and the companysaw cash flow from operations of $89 million and free cash flow of $77 millionfor the second quarter. Illumina is expecting, for fiscal year 2013, revenuegrowth of approximately 20 percent and non-GAAP earnings per fully dilutedshare of $1.68 to $1.72, which includes the impact of its acquisitions ofAdvanced Liquid Logic and Verinata.
