Medical imaging services provider Invicro has acquired Imanova, a UK-based imaging laboratory partnership of three London universities, for an undisclosed sum.
The Imanova Centre for Imaging Services opened in 2011 as a collaboration between Imperial College London, King’s College London and University College London, as well as the UK government-owned research agency Medical Research Council (MRC).
The company markets post-processing and data management software to professionals working with medical imaging tools such as CT scans. It claims to have collected a wide range of biomarkers to help academic researchers and drug developers pinpoint features on medical scans.
Invicro plans to keep Imanova’s imaging centre open, protecting some 90 jobs. The firm is also planning a recruitment drive to further expand Imanova’s biomarker R&D and services.
Imanova has not disclosed any equity funding since it was formed seven years ago. The company reportedly generated £14.5m ($19.2m) in the year ending March 2016, up from £8.8m in 2011 to 2012.
Kevin Cox, CEO of Imanova, said: “Strong support from the MRC and our academic partners has been critical to the successful development and expansion of imaging technology.
“This acquisition is a recognition of the excellence of UK science and will provide additional resource and expertise to drive innovation in imaging sciences for medical research and help reduce the risk, cost and time of drug development.”
Jack Hoppin, CEO of Invicro, said: “Invicro is excited to invest in the UK, and Imanova is an ideal partner as the merger of our complementary capabilities will create a unique end-to-end imaging services and data management company that can effectively support sponsors at all stages of the drug development lifecycle.”
