WALTHAM, MA February 17, 2021 — Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO), the world leader in serving science, today announced it has acquired cell sorting technology assets from Propel Labs, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIDIS Corp. Under the terms of the agreement, the recently introduced Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter and approximately 40 employees will become part of Thermo Fisher’s Biosciences business. Propel Labs will continue to operate as a separate entity and serve its existing customers.
“Cell sorting is an essential discovery tool used by many of our customers, allowing for the separation of specific cell types from complex samples. A first-of-its kind, the Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter brings more powerful sorting capabilities, faster throughput and novel safety features complementing our already strong flow cytometry offering,” said Mark Stevenson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “As the market for cell and gene therapies, immuno-oncology and other promising medicines drive increased expectations from researchers, we are really well positioned to support our customers in their work to improve health care outcomes.”
Researchers are asking for cytometry analysis and sorting techniques with greater multiplexing capabilities to gain deeper biological insights. Current tools only meet some of these challenges. The high-speed electronics and innovative design of the Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter accelerate sorting by up to 10 times that of other available technologies, while maintaining cell viability and improving ease of use. It also has an integrated Class II biocontainment system that eliminates the need for separate biosafety cabinets. With this new technology, researchers can study more cell populations from samples of limited quantity, enabling a better understanding of biological systems at a scale and resolution needed for advancing science.
Stevenson added, “We look forward to welcoming the highly talented members of the Propel Labs Bigfoot team who bring additional flow cytometry expertise, R&D capabilities and engineering strength to Thermo Fisher, helping to further elevate our cell analysis and cell therapy research business."
The Biosciences business is part of the Life Sciences Solutions Segment.
