Curetis

The German diagnostics firm recently signed an agreement to be acquired by US-based OpGen in a transaction that is slated to close in early 2020.

The combined firm will be based in Gaithersburg, Maryland and will focus on infectious disease diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance prediction services. 

The company is delaying the publication of its business and financial update for the first half of 2019 to allow for an ongoing review by its auditors.

The deal covers Curetis' Unyvero A50 instrument system and test cartridges, and builds on a separate distribution agreement the company recently signed.

The funds will support Curetis' R&D efforts, which include partnering its Unyvero A30 RQ mid-plex diagnostics system for verification and validation testing.

The company also reported a decline in its net loss for the quarter on lower operating expenses due to a recent reorganization that included layoffs.

For 2019, the firm's total revenues from commercial operations, licensing, and collaborations are expected to grow to more than €3 million.

Under the agreement, Menarini will immediately begin distributing Curetis' PCR-based system in Germany, France, Benelux, the UK, and Switzerland.

The submission by Curetis' distribution partner Beijing Clear Biotech used data previously collected for regulatory approvals in the US and Europe.

The new regulatory approvals add to previous approvals in Singapore, expanding the firm's reach in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.