Abcam to buy American antibody technology firm AxioMx

AxioMx develops recombinant antibody technologies. The company offers a range of custom antibody discovery and development services for the research, diagnostic and therapeutic marketplaces.

Abcam will pay $20m upfront to buy the company, with a further $25m due based on AxioMx meeting performance targets.

Abcam said AxioMx’s platform for producing recombinant monoclonal antibodies will complement its existing antibody and immunoassay capabilities.

The in vitro technology will allow Abcam to deliver new tools to existing and new customers in areas like infectious disease, toxins, nucleotides, and membrane bound proteins.

AxioMx provides its technology as a service to research institutes as well as diagnostics and therapeutics organizations.

After completion of the acquisition, AxioMx will re-focus its activities to develop highly validated recombinant antibodies for inclusion in the Abcam catalogue.

Abcam CEO Alan Hirzel said: "This acquisition enhances our ability to serve emerging life science needs and supports our mission to be the most influential and recommended company for life scientists worldwide.

"After an extensive review of alternate scaffold and other in vitro technologies, we are confident that AxioMx has created unique, high quality and economically attractive methods to serve customers in research, diagnostic and drug discovery labs globally."