ArchiMed Acquires Diesse Diagnostica Senese SpA to Expand Automated In Vitro Diagnostic Systems Portfolio

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned that ArchiMed recently announced that its holding company, Duomodiag Sarl, had completed the acquisition of the Italian in vitro diagnostic system manufacturer Diesse Diagnostica Senese S.p.A. (Diesse). The transaction was financially supported by Italy’s leading banks, MPS Capital Services and BPER Banca S.p.A. Specific financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Duomodiag Sarl is a holding company supported by ArchiMed through its MED II fund. Founded in Lyon, France, in 2014, ArchiMed is an independent investment firm focused on the healthcare industry. The firm primarily invests in North America and Europe, with a portfolio spanning biopharmaceuticals, medical technology, in vitro diagnostics, life sciences, healthcare IT, consumer health, public safety, and care services.

Founded in 1980, Diesse is committed to establishing a solid presence in the in vitro diagnostics (IVD) market, particularly in the fields of hematology, serology, and bacteriology. The IVD systems developed by the company are primarily used for diagnosing infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, hematological conditions, and inflammation. In 2018, Diesse generated over €22 million in revenue from more than 100 countries and currently employs approximately 150 people. The company’s business is driven by two main product lines: the Chorus instruments and the VES-MATIC system.

The Chorus instrument is an automated, integrated pipetting system designed for sample dispensing in diagnostic equipment. It offers a range of ELISA-based immunoassays in a single-test format for the diagnosis of infectious and autoimmune diseases. Recent advancements in the Chorus series have enabled automation of the pre-analytical phase.

Chorus Instrument (Image from the official website)

In the VES-MATIC system for hematology, Diesse provides an automated method for measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) that correlates highly with the gold-standard Westergren method. The system can simultaneously determine the ESR for 20 blood samples. The assay time is only 20 minutes. The system operates without direct contact with blood, determining ESR data directly in closed tubes and generating no liquid waste.

VES-MATIC System (Image from the official website)

Loïc Kubitza, a partner at ArchiMed, stated, “With the change in company ownership, we will be introducing an expert team from the IVD industry. This team possesses proven innovative capabilities and extensive operational experience in both the Italian and international markets. They will drive greater market penetration for the company.”

Diesse was originally a Swiss subsidiary of PZ Cormay SA, a Warsaw-listed diagnostics group. This acquisition marks ArchiMed’s second cross-border deal completed in 2019. On March 1, ArchiMed, through its MED II fund-backed portfolio company Clean Biologics, acquired BE Vaccines, a viral vaccine manufacturer.

ArchiMed partner Vincent Guillaumot commented, “We will seek other opportunities to acquire non-core assets from large industrial groups.”

MPS Capital Services (MPS CS) is the corporate and investment banking arm of MPS Group, specializing in providing financial support and advisory services to enterprises.

BPER Banca SpA is a banking group formed through the merger of four regional savings banks in Italy, initiated by BPER Banca. These banks operate across multiple market segments, including retail banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth management, and insurance. In addition to its banking operations, the group comprises specialized product companies engaged in asset management, personal lending, leasing, and factoring. The group’s strategic development emphasizes customer service and banking collaboration. BPER Group’s extensive customer base consists primarily of individuals holding transactional deposits within its retail banking segment; however, its loan portfolio is predominantly anchored by corporate clients.

(Compiled by Li Chengping)