Roche acquires Amira Medical
Further strengthens position in Diabetes Care

Roche today announced that it has acquired Amira Medical, Inc., a privately-held corporation active in the diabetes monitoring business. The company, based in Scotts Valley, California, employs approximately 160 people and complements Roche Diagnostics’ expertise in blood glucose monitoring. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 1996, Amira Medical develops and markets glucose monitoring products. In particular, it has pioneered proprietary technology to enable users to draw a small blood sample from areas of the body other than the fingertips. Amira Medical’s extensive know-how and substantial patent portfolio is complementary to the Research & Development (R&D) expertise at Roche in this field. It will considerably strengthen the position of Roche in Diabetes Care, substantially supporting the efforts to secure a leading position in the important integrated spot monitoring (ISM) market segment. Roche Diagnostics is committed to providing a „one-step-handling“ system, which integrates monitor, strip and lancing technology. Amira Medical technology know-how and patents will accelerate Roche’s access to this rapidly growing segment projected to value over 5 billion Swiss Francs, by the end of the decade.

“Combining Amira Medical’s and Roche’s internal R&D talent will substantially contribute to increasing our company’s knowledge and competencies to further extend our more than 25-year history of innovation in diabetes monitoring. We are enthusiastic about this opportunity, which is another expression of Roche’s commitment to make living with diabetes easier” said Heino von Prondzynski, Head of Roche’s Diagnostics division and Member of the Roche Executive Committee.

Karen Drexler, responsible for Corporate Development at Amira Medical, states that “Amira Medical’s mission was to provide revolutionary glucose monitoring solutions. With Roche’s expertise and resources we will be well equipped to further pursue this goal together, to improve the lives of millions of people with diabetes.”

With this acquisition, the current research and development pursuits of Roche in

Minimally and non-invasive technologies for diabetes detection;
Spot testing and continuous glucose monitoring systems; and
an automated pancreas that will link artificial intelligence, glucose monitoring and insulin dosing
will be further strengthened and will enable the company’s long-term success.