Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that it has acquired Cork, Ireland-based Luxcel Biosciences (“Luxcel”), a developer of real time fluorescence plate-reader based in vitro cell assay kits.

This acquisition expands Agilent’s cell analysis portfolio with the addition of easy-to-use assay kits that are compatible with industry standard plate-readers.

Luxcel is developing a portfolio of in vitro cell-based assay kits and solutions targeting cell metabolism, drug safety and toxicity, as well as hypoxia and oxidative stress for a variety of life science customers from research institutions to pharmaceutical companies.

Scientists use this technology to understand the roll of cell metabolism across a variety of important research areas including cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, immunology, and infectious disease. 

Agilent entered the cell analysis market in 2015 with the acquisition of Seahorse Bioscience, a leader in providing specialized instruments and live-cell, kinetic assays. 

The Luxcel team will remain in Cork and form a dedicated sensor chemistries and bioassay solutions group within Agilent’s Cell Analysis Division.

Financial terms of the deal are not being disclosed.