Grifols, Barcelona, Spain, has entered into an agreement to acquire the blood donor nucleic acid screening unit of Hologic, Bedford, Mass, for $1.85 million.

The agreement encompasses research, development, and manufacture of assays and instruments using nucleic acid technology for the detection of infectious agents in blood and plasma donations.

Victor Grifols Sr, Grifols.

Victor Grifols Sr, Grifols.

Under the agreement, Grifols will receive a fully paid-up license to certain Hologic intellectual property for use in the blood screening field. Approximately 175 people, mainly in operations and research and development, will transfer to Grifols, along with Hologic’s blood screening manufacturing facility in Rancho Bernardo, Calif. Previously, Grifols had been marketing the assays and instruments worldwide.

“This acquisition is part of the growth strategy foreseen for the diagnostic division,” says Victor Grifols Sr, chairman and CEO of Grifols. “Now, with this new transaction, we have contributed our vertical integration process, as we also have control over the production and R&D phases.”

Steve MacMillan, Hologic.

Steve MacMillan, Hologic.

“Divesting our share of our blood screening business to Grifols will strengthen our efforts to build a sustainable growth company by accelerating top- and bottom-line growth rates, while significantly increasing financial flexibility,” says Steve MacMillan, chairman, president, and CEO of Hologic. “We are immensely proud of the contributions we have made to global blood safety over nearly 20 years. But at the same time, we believe that the business and our blood screening employees are best positioned to succeed under a single owner, and that this sale to Grifols provides excellent value for Hologic and our shareholders.”

The acquisition is structured through Grifols Diagnostic Solutions, a US incorporated, wholly owned subsidiary of Grifols SA. Subject to customary closing and regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.