Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
Roche acquired 454 Life Sciences from CuraGen for $154.9 million ($140 million in cash plus up to ~$15 million for outstanding stock options), entering the ultra-fast next-generation DNA sequencing market for in vitro diagnostic (IVD) applications. The acquisition integrated 454's Branford, Connecticut pyrosequencing operations into Roche Diagnostics. The platform ultimately proved uncompetitive against Illumina, and Roche shut down 454 in 2013, with production ceasing in 2016.