Agilent Technologies Acquires Cell Analysis Firm ACEA Biosciences

Agilent Technologies announced the completion of its acquisition of ACEA Biosciences, a company specializing in cell analysis tools, for $250 million in cash. This strategic move integrates ACEA's expertise in real-time, live-cell analysis with Agilent's existing portfolio.

The acquisition brings together leaders in measuring cellular function and metabolism. ACEA's xCELLigence RTCA platform offers label-free, real-time monitoring of cellular functions, applied in areas such as immuno-oncology, drug discovery, and academic research. Additionally, ACEA's NovoCyte® and NovoCyte Quanteon™ benchtop flow cytometry systems are now part of Agilent's offerings.

This integration is expected to enhance Agilent's capabilities in cell analysis, a key strategic focus for the company. ACEA also markets a clinical configuration of its NovoCyte platform in China, creating potential synergies with Agilent's reagent business for flow cytometry.

Founded in 2002, ACEA Biosciences is headquartered in San Diego with significant R&D and manufacturing operations in Hangzhou, China. The company has deployed over 2,500 instruments globally, which have been cited in more than 1,800 peer-reviewed publications. This acquisition follows Agilent's earlier purchase of Luxcel Biosciences this year.