OGT to be acquired by Sysmex Corporation

Oxford, UK – 31 May 2017. OGT, The Molecular Genetics Company, today announced that it has signed an agreement to be acquired by Sysmex Corporation (Sysmex), a Japanese in vitro diagnostic company.

Sysmex will acquire all of OGT’s shares, gaining access to OGT’s genetic analysis technologies and expertise in the cytogenetics domain. OGT will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysmex. Further terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

Sysmex develops, produces and sells integrated instruments, reagents and software used in in vitro diagnostics and is the leading supplier globally in hematology, haemostasis and urinanalysis. The acquisition of OGT will allow Sysmex to enter the cytogenetics market with FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) and aCGH (array comparative genomic hybridization) products. It will also strengthen its technology base in molecular genetics through OGT’s NGS (next generation sequencing) reagent development capabilities. The acquisition of OGT expands Sysmex’s life science business and reinforces its initiatives towards personalized medicine.

For the year ended 30 September 2016 OGT recorded sales of £19.7m primarily from its fully integrated molecular genetics product portfolio of CytoCell^® FISH probes, SureSeq™ NGS products and CytoSure^® microarray products that together grew by 30% in FY16. The sustained profitable growth in rapidly expanding markets along with OGT’s strong heritage in hybridization-based technologies positions it well for the future in the field of molecular medicine and the acquisition by Sysmex serves to further strengthen this position.

Professor Sir Edwin Southern, founder of OGT comments “We are delighted to become part of such a well-regarded organisation and truly believe that the opportunities arising from joining a large global corporation like Sysmex will be transformational for OGT, its employees and customers”.

Several product development synergies have been identified that combine OGT’s innovation and expertise in genetic assays for hematology, solid cancer and rare disease with Sysmex’s expertise in instrument development and in vitro diagnostics to expand offerings in genomic medicine. For example, R&D teams from OGT and Sysmex will collaborate to develop an automated system for FISH testing by combining Sysmex’s automation technology with the high-quality FISH reagent development expertise OGT possesses.

In addition, adding OGT’s array CGH and NGS capabilities will expand opportunities further in genetic testing in the field of rare diseases and liquid biopsies.

OGT’s CEO Dr Mike Evans adds, “Alongside the exciting product development opportunities already identified, there are a number of beneficial commercial synergies that will expand market access for OGT’s products putting us at the forefront of molecular genetics. We are looking forward to the next chapter in our development as part of Sysmex."

About OGT

OGT, a Sysmex Group company, is a leading global provider of clinical and diagnostic genomic solutions that are created for scientists by scientists - including CytoCell^®, CytoSure^® and SureSeq™ ranges of FISH, microarray and NGS products. The company is dedicated to creating products that enable researchers and clinical decision makers to reach the right care decisions for each patient, every time. OGT strives to unlock the future of genetic clinical care with a commitment to working in partnership with its customers - not only by sharing its expertise of 25 years at the forefront of genetic endeavour, but also by working closely with scientists to understand their unique challenges, and to customise its approach to meet their exact needs. Dedicated to improving clinical care, OGT believes that through partnership—together—we’ll achieve more.

For more information on the Company, please visit our website at ogt.com

CytoSure^®, SureSeq™ and myProbes^®: For Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures. CytoCell: Some products may not be available in your region.

About Sysmex Corporation

Sysmex Corporation is a world leader in clinical laboratory systemization and solutions, including laboratory diagnostics, laboratory automation and clinical information systems. Serving customers for more than 50 years, Sysmex focuses on technological leadership in diagnostic science and information tools that make a difference in the health of people worldwide. The company is also exploring emerging opportunities in the life science field. Its R&D efforts focus on the development of high-value-added testing and diagnostic technologies that are innovative, original and optimize individual health. Sysmex also seeks to leverage its state-of-the-art technologies for cell, gene and protein analysis. The company, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, has subsidiaries in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China and Asia Pacific and employs more than 9,000 employees worldwide. Sysmex Corporation is listed in the top tier of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

For more information about Sysmex Corporation and its affiliate companies, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.