Getting a PET scan in Europe could become easier as Siemens Healthineers has agreed to buy the nuclear diagnostics imaging business of pharmaceutical giant Novartis. Meanwhile, Enlitic has announced plans to acquire a radiology rival as a springboard for future growth, CEO Michael Sistenich said in a statement.
Rounding out this week’s M&A news, PatientPay announced a merger with ClearGage to become a healthcare billing and payments powerhouse, while Check Point Software announced it is rolling out AI-powered analytics using obscure web data in partnership with fast-growing Cyberint.
Siemens takes over AAA diagnostics
Siemens Healthineers has reportedly announced that it will be able to expand its PET radiopharmaceuticals business into Europe through the acquisition of Novartis’ molecular imaging business.
Swiss company Novartis originally bought the radiopharmaceutical technology known as Advanced Accelerator Application in 2017 for nearly $4 billion. According to Reuters history In connection with this sale, AAA technology allows for the creation of images of organs and lesions by using trace amounts of radioactive compounds to diagnose diseases and can also be used in the fight against cancer.
Last week history The Siemens deal indicated that the imaging giant intends to produce the necessary shorter-lived nuclear isotopes closer to European imaging centres because the compounds must be used on the same day they are produced.
Sources at the companies reportedly confirmed the deal and said it is expected to close this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
Enlitic acquires Laitek for $5 million
A Fort Collins, Colorado-based software company that aims to streamline clinical workflows and expand healthcare capabilities by using artificial intelligence to manage data announced that it has signed a conditional agreement to acquire competitor Laitek.
Laitek, which focuses on rapid PACS data migration, has a steady stream of recent migration projects, according to an Aug. 29 Enlitic report announcementThe acquisition includes all of the company’s proprietary capabilities, historical data, trade secrets and existing customer relationships.
Enlitic said the consolidation will enable access to recent customers, boost revenue synergies and realize cost savings by adding Laitek’s medical data migration and routing services to its AI-powered medical imaging software suite that it licenses to vendors.
“Laitek and Enlitic represent a strong strategic fit, enabling us to deliver differentiated and synergistic services to our customers,” Sistenich said in a statement.
The combination of capabilities will assist solve “many long-standing operational challenges, such as data migration and storage, data standardization, and the transition to cloud solutions,” he added.
The completion of the acquisition transaction is conditional upon Enlitic successfully completing the capital boost process.
PatientPay connects with ClearGage
PatientPay, a patient billing and payment partner for acute, outpatient and specialty care, will merge with ClearGage, a provider of healthcare costing and payment solutions.
As the company said in its announcement last week, the combination will enable PatientPay to develop and launch an advanced digital infrastructure that will enable better patient and provider connectivity.
By joining forces, the combined platform aims to better align consumer experiences “with the financial goals and needs of healthcare organizations,” Ryan Zemmin, CEO of ClearGage, said in a statement.
“Our collective ability to remove friction from the patient financial experience and collect payments quickly is why our customers continue to rely on us to protect and grow the financial health of their organizations,” added Tom Furr, CEO of PatientPay.
Check Point introduces AI-based intelligence
Redwood City, California-based Check Point Software announced on Aug. 27 that it has agreed to purchase advanced threat prevention solutions from Cyberint, including detection and takedown of impersonating websites and social media accounts, stolen credentials and leaked data.
“Leaked credentials and fake sites designed for malicious purposes are extremely common today, with over 90% of organizations facing these threats,” Yochai Corem, CEO at Cyberint, said in a statement.
Founded in 2010, the third-party risk management solutions provider serves a diverse group of global customers and Fortune 500 companies and will strengthen Check Point’s SOC capabilities, added Sharon Schusheim, chief services officer at Check Point.
“We will be able to turn identified threats into autonomous preventive actions and work with Check Point and third-party security product vendors to limit compromised assets and mitigate external threats,” she added.
The capabilities of Cyberint’s Argos platform, which leverages intelligence from the open, deep and obscure web and analyzes evolving attack surfaces for recent threats, will be combined into Check Pint’s Infinity platform.
Check Point said the transaction is expected to close in 2024.