Original from: bioMérieux

bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, announces an agreement to acquire the assets of Day Zero Diagnostics, a US-based infectious disease diagnostics company using genome sequencing and machine learning to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections. This strategic acquisition aims to enhance bioMérieux's capabilities in next-generation sequencing (NGS) and rapid diagnostics, further solidifying its commitment to advancing healthcare and Antimicrobial Stewardship through innovative solutions.

Day Zero Diagnostics has developed groundbreaking technologies that integrate direct-from-whole-blood sample preparation, sequencing, and advanced ID/AST analytics. The sequencing-based rapid diagnostic in development by Day Zero Diagnostics can identify, within hours, both the species and the antibiotic resistance profile of a bacterial pathogen. Current approaches take 2-5 days to provide similar information. The assets to be acquired include NGS workflows, chemistries, reagents, as well as the bioinformatics pipeline and software.

“Thanks to this strategic acquisition, we will broaden our capabilities in next-generation sequencing (NGS), following a proactive and forward-thinking approach to innovation.  Sequencing is a promising technology that offers several advantages. It enables diagnosis to be approached without necessarily having a hypothesis about the causes of infection, and results are obtained more rapidly, which is crucial for the diagnosis of infectious diseases,” stated Céline Roger-Dalbert, Executive Vice President, Research & Development, bioMérieux.

The integration of Day Zero Diagnostics solutions, which are still in the development phase, will reinforce bioMérieux’s R&D pipeline with fast and accurate testing tools to address unmet needs in infectious disease diagnostics, enabling the management of the most life-threatening conditions, including sepsis.

“The acquisition of Day Zero Diagnostics’ next-generation sequencing assets is a strategic fit with bioMérieux’s long-term vision. Once fully developed, it will complement our existing infectious diseases diagnostic solutions already available on the market. By bringing sequencing technologies into routine fully automated testing, we will provide clinicians with an additional, powerful tool—especially valuable in cases of suspected bloodstream infections or other critical conditions where rapid, actionable results are essential for patient care. This investment reflects bioMérieux’s ongoing commitment to innovation and our mission to advance public health worldwide,” declared Pierre Boulud, Chief Executive Officer, bioMérieux.

Financial information

Under the terms of the agreement, bioMérieux will acquire the assets of Day Zero Diagnostics for a total consideration under USD25m.

This acquisition paves the way for bioMérieux growth beyond 2028. The operating expenses related to the integration and the development of these assets will be fully embedded in the bioMérieux annual R&D investments (~12% of annual sales) by redeploying internal resources.

Source: bioMérieux strengthens its next-generation sequencing capabilities with the acquisition of Day Zero Diagnostics solutions and technologies