Bio-Rad Laboratories, Provalis deal

BIO's Bio-Metrics Ltd. subsidiary plans to acquire PRO's PB Diagnostics Ltd. medical diagnostic business for £1.6 million ($2.1 million) in cash. PRO's diagnostic business generated sales of £400,000 ($500,000) in the six months ended Dec. 31, 2005.

BIO said PRO's diagnostics fit with its point-of-care testing business. The deal includes PRO's in2it automated diagnostic platform for monitoring diabetes, which is approved in the U.S. and Europe. Other marketed products included in the deal are PRO's Glycosal diabetes test, Osteosal and InstaQuant bone loss diagnostics, and Helisal for measuring Helicobacter pylori. ...