Leica Biosystems Completes Acquisition of Aperio
BOSTON, MA and PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwire - October 24, 2012) - Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) today announced that an affiliate of Leica Biosystems has successfully completed its previously announced acquisition of ATV portfolio company Aperio, a leading provider of ePathology solutions. ATV first partnered with Aperio in 2005.
Aperio will be integrated into Leica Biosystems, a leader in anatomical pathology solutions. Together, the two businesses will leverage each other's strengths to grow and expand digital pathology into the global Life Science and Healthcare markets. The integrated business will provide industry leading solutions in each step of the anatomical pathology workflow, from sample preparation and staining, to imaging and reporting. The company will continue to offer both the Aperio ePathology Solutions and the existing Leica portfolio of Digital Pathology solutions, so that customers will enjoy more freedom to choose a solution that meets their individual needs.
"Aperio's management team has done an excellent job establishing a leadership position in the dynamic digital pathology market, an increasingly valuable diagnostics area that has proven to reduce laboratory expenses, improve operational efficiencies and significantly enhance patient care," said Steve Baloff, General Partner, Advanced Technology Ventures. "We congratulate both Aperio and Leica on this acquisition, and are confident that together they will best address the entire digital pathology spectrum. We are excited by the continued success of our healthcare portfolio which includes the recent public offering of Zeltiq and exits of Ardian and Plexxikon."
"We believe that Aperio will benefit from the heritage, deep pathology expertise, and strong brand recognition of Leica Biosystems," said David Schlotterbeck, CEO of Aperio. "The combined product offerings and improved reach into the diagnostic market will make our ePathology Solutions more widely available. We see our goals as synergistic and together we can address the regional and global imbalances of pathology expertise available for patient care and research."
About Aperio
For over a decade, Aperio has advanced the technology that enables glass slides to be digitized and securely shared with others. Aperio products are transforming the practice of pathology in hospitals, reference labs, and pharmaceutical and research institutions around the world. From the moment glass slides are elevated to eSlides, Aperio ePathology Solutions equip pathologists with the power to evaluate, engage, and excel like never before. The NETWORK enables remote, simultaneous, real-time viewing and easy distribution for consults and collaboration. PRECISION tools empower pathologists with advanced analytic capabilities. An interoperable, scalable, and secure web-based software platform facilitates integration with existing systems. With Aperio ePathology Solutions, organizations can optimize their pathology operations for transparency, consistency, and efficiency to support patient care, personalized medicine, and research. For clearance updates, specific product indications, and more information please visit www.aperio.com
About Advanced Technology Ventures
Advanced Technology Ventures is a bi-coastal venture capital firm with more than $1.6 billion in capital under management. ATV works closely with entrepreneurial teams in several technology markets, including biotechnology, medical devices, communications, IT infrastructure, and software and services, to build strong, sustainable business enterprises. For more information, please visit ATV's Web site at www.atvcapital.com.