Focus on biotechnology

The company announced on 16 September 2011 a 5-year plan that will expand its range of biomanufacturing technologies under a new oncology-focused investment project. GE Healthcare will spend US$1 billion (Euros 731 million) of its R & D budget on the development of new bioreactors, purification platforms and characterisation systems as well as on the further expansion of its diagnostics, molecular pathology, molecular imaging businesses and on technologies used in cancer research and for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals.

Mr John Dineen, President and CEO, GE Healthcare, said ‘we are devoting an even greater share of our R&D budget to continue developing new oncology solutions.’

Further aspects of the strategy include GE Healthcare’s planned acquisition of cell culture media manufacturer PAA Laboratories and partnership with Sartorius Stedium Biotech (SSB). With PAA Laboratories GE can begin to offer manufacturers a much more integrated package with which to support their activities.

The SSB deal strengthens key patents for both companies’ biomanufacturing technology interests.