Beckman Coulter Inc., which makes biomedical diagnostics instruments, said Wednesday it has gained intellectual property rights related to hepatitis c virus testing from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.
Financial terms weren't disclosed, but Beckman Coulter expects to take a charge of $12 million in the second quarter related to the agreement.
Under the deal, Beckman Coulter said that it will use the rights to develop a viral load blood test for the virus for use in a company diagnostic system currently under development. The company expects to begin selling the instrument in 2010.
About 3 to 4 million people become newly infected by hepatitis c annually, Beckman Coulter said.
Also Wednesday, Beckman Coulter reported its first-quarter earnings rose 16 percent and beat Wall Street expectations. It also raised the low end of its full-year profit outlook.
Shares soared $4.62, or 7.2 percent, to $68.42 in midday trading.
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