Smiths Detection on Tuesday said it has agreed to acquire Baltimore-based PathSensors, a developer of technology used in the detection of deadly pathogens for defense, food safety and emerging disease applications.
Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the next four weeks, were not disclosed. Smiths Detection is part of Britain’s Smiths Group.
Smiths Detection, which has well developed capabilities in chemical, radiological and explosive detection, said the acquisition will add biological detection technology and solutions to its portfolio. PathSensors has a customer base similar to what Smiths has for chemical-threat detection and will help it move into other areas of the bio-detection space as the world continues to confront the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“The acquisition of PathSensors will allow us to broaden our detection capabilities within the biological spectrum, which is becoming more relevant in the current environment,” Roland Carter, president of Smiths Detection, said in a statement. “This is consistent with our approach to increase our focus on investing selectively in technology and innovation for the purpose of getting closer to our customers and expanding into new adjacencies.”
PathSensors’ products are based on a cell-based biosensor technology it calls CANARY that provides rapid, highly sensitive and specific pathogen detection used for applications in agriculture, food safety, bio-defense and mail screening. On its website, PathSensors says it also has a capability for aerosol detection of COVID-19.