Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is an American supplier of scientific instrumentation,

reagent In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...

s and consumables, and software services. Based in

Waltham, Massachusetts Waltham ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, ...

, Thermo Fisher was formed through the

merger Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are business transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations, or their operating units are transferred to or consolidated with another company or business organization. As an aspec ...

of Thermo Electron and

Fisher Scientific Fisher Scientific International, Inc. ( NYSE: FSH) was a laboratory supply and biotechnology company that provided products and services to the global scientific research and clinical laboratory markets until its merger with Thermo Electron in 2 ...

in 2006. Thermo Fisher Scientific has acquired other reagent, consumable, instrumentation, and service providers, including: Life Technologies Corporation (2013),

Alfa Aesar Alfa Aesar, headquartered in Ward Hill, Massachusetts, United States, is a supplier of reagents and materials for use in research and development, and analysis. They have facilities in many countries and manufacture many of the chemicals they sel ...

(2015),

Affymetrix Affymetrix is now Applied Biosystems, a brand of DNA microarray products sold by Thermo Fisher Scientific that originated with an American biotechnology research and development and manufacturing company of the same name. The Santa Clara, Cali ...

(2016), FEI Company (2016), BD Advanced Bioprocessing (2018), and PPD (2021). As of 2017, the company had a market capitalization of $21 billion and was a

Fortune 500 The ''Fortune'' 500 is an annual list compiled and published by ''Fortune (magazine), Fortune'' magazine that ranks 500 of the largest United States Joint-stock company#Closely held corporations and publicly traded corporations, corporations by ...

company. Annual revenue in 2021 was US$39.21 billion. In March 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific received emergency use authorization from the FDA for a test for

SARS-CoV-2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had a ...

to help mitigate the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

History

Predecessors and merger

Thermo Electron was co-founded in 1956 by George N. Hatsopoulos and Peter M Nomikos. Hatsopoulos received a PhD from MIT in

mechanical engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, ...

and Nomikos was a

Harvard Business School Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate business school of Harvard University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world and offers a large full-time MBA ...

graduate. The company focused on providing analytical and laboratory products, and had revenues of over $2 billion in 2004.

was founded in 1902 by Chester G. Fisher from

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

. It focused on providing laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety, and education. On May 14, 2006, Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific announced that they would merge in a tax-free, stock-for-stock exchange; the merged company was named Thermo Fisher Scientific, and had about 30,000 employees, and reported US$9 billion in combined revenue.Merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific Completed, Forming Thermo Fisher Scientific
, press release, November 9, 2006 On November 9, 2006, the companies announced that the merger had been completed. However, the

Federal Trade Commission The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction o ...

ruled that this acquisition was anti-competitive regarding

centrifugal evaporator A centrifugal evaporator is a device used in chemical and biochemical laboratories for the efficient and gentle evaporation of solvents from many samples at the same time, and samples contained in microtitre plates. If only one sample required eva ...

s, requiring Fisher to divest

Genevac Genevac Ltd is a company which was founded in 1990 by Michael Cole. It used to specialize in the manufacture of vacuum pumps and centrifugal evaporators, but has since directed its attention to equipment designed for combinatorial chemistry Combina ...

. In April 2007, Genevac was sold to Riverlake Partners LLC and the merger closed with FTC approval. Today, the company's products are sold under the brand names of Thermo Scientific, Fisher Scientific, and several other recognized brand names (e.g. Chromacol, Nalgene, Cellomics, Pierce Protein Research and Fermentas). According to company figures, 46% of its sales are in

life sciences This list of life sciences comprises the branches of science that involve the scientific study of life – such as microorganisms, plants, and animals including human beings. This science is one of the two major branches of natural science, th ...

, 20% in

healthcare Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health pro ...

, and 34% in industrial/environmental and safety. Thermo Fisher Scientific has offices and operations worldwide, notably in the U.S. and in Europe, and China having 5,000 employees and contributing over 10% of the company's revenue.

Acquisition history

In December 2010, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced its acquisition of Dionex for $2.1 billion. In May 2011, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. bought Phadia to expand into the testing of allergies and autoimmune diseases for €2.47 billion ($3.5 billion) in cash. In April 2013, after a competitive bidding with

Hoffmann-La Roche F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, commonly known as Roche, is a Swiss multinational healthcare company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has shares listed on the SIX ...

, Thermo Fisher acquired Life Technologies Corporation for US$13.6 billion in a deal, adding further service lines related to advanced DNA sequencing and genetic testing. In February 2015, the company announced it would acquire Advanced Scientifics for $300 million in a cash-deal. ASI designs, manufactures and delivers technologies used in bioprocessing. In June 2015, the company announced its intention to acquire Alfa Aesar, a global manufacturer of research chemicals for $405 million from Johnson Matthey, and the acquisition was completed at the end of September In January 2016, the company announced it would acquire

for $1.3 billion. On May 27, 2016, the company announced it would acquire FEI Company for $4.2 billion, a manufacturer of

electron microscope An electron microscope is a microscope that uses a beam of accelerated electrons as a source of illumination. As the wavelength of an electron can be up to 100,000 times shorter than that of visible light photons, electron microscopes have a hi ...

s. This acquisition is anticipated to close in early 2017 and will contribute to the growth of Thermo's Analytical Instruments business group. In November the company announced it would acquire MTI-GlobalStem, a previously privately held company that develops reagents for cell transfection, neurobiology and stem cell research. In February 2017, the company acquired Finesse Solutions, Inc., developer of scalable control automation systems and software for bioproduction after receiving early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The transaction was completed a day later. In March, the company announced it would acquire Core Informatics, provider of cloud-based platforms supporting scientific data management. In August, the company acquired Patheon, a

contract development and manufacturing organization A contract manufacturing organization (CMO), more recently referred to (and more commonly used now) as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) to avoid the acronym confusion of Chief Medical Officer or Clinical Monitoring Organ ...

serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, for approximately $7.2 billion. As of 2017, the company had revenues of $20.9 billion, and was a

company. In September 2018, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it had signed a definitive agreement with Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX) to acquire their Advanced Bioprocessing business. This BD business had annualized revenue of approximately $100 million; as of October 16, 2018, it had been integrated into Thermo Fisher's Life Sciences Solutions Segment. In March 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced its entry into the

gene therapy Gene therapy is a Medicine, medical field which focuses on the genetic modification of cells to produce a therapeutic effect or the treatment of disease by repairing or reconstructing defective genetic material. The first attempt at modifying ...

manufacturing market with a $1.7 billion cash acquisition for Brammer Bio. In May 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific partnered with MMJ International Holdings to manufacture drug products developed by MMJ for the treatment of

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This ...

and

Huntington's disease Huntington's disease (HD), also known as Huntington's chorea, is a neurodegenerative disease that is mostly inherited. The earliest symptoms are often subtle problems with mood or mental abilities. A general lack of coordination and an uns ...

. In June, the business announced it would acquire mass spectrometry software provider, HighChem. In March 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific agreed to purchase Qiagen, a molecular diagnostics company, for $10.1 billion. In July, the offer for Qiagen was raised from €39 to €43 per share (€11.3 billion in total). On August 13, the company announced that its offer to acquire all of the ordinary share had lapsed, and it terminated the acquisition agreement. In August 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific opened its new Lenexa facility aimed at boosting the production and manufacturing of COVID-19 testing supplies. In December the business announced it would acquire Phitonex, Inc. In January 2021, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it had acquired Belgium-based viral vector manufacturer, Henogen SA, from Groupe Novasep SAS for €725 million in cash and Mesa Biotech, Inc. for up to $550 million. In April 2021, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced the acquisition of

PPD, Inc. Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) is a global contract research organization (CRO) providing comprehensive, integrated drug development, laboratory and lifecycle management services. In December 2021, PPD became a wholly owned subsidiary ...

, a contract research organization, for a total cash purchase price of $17.4 billion-plus the assumption of approximately $3.5 billion of net debt. PPD generated $4.7 billion in revenue during FY 2020, and this transaction, which values their company at approximately $20.9 billion. In November, the business announced it would acquire PharmaFluidics and its μPAC range of micro-chip-based chromatography products. In October 2022, the company agreed to buy British diagnostics firm, The Binding Site Group, in an all-cash deal for US$2.6billion from Nordic Capital. *Thermo Fisher Scientific (formed in 2006 by the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific) **Thermo Fisher Scientific ***

****Scientific Materials Co. (Est 1902) ****Scientific Supplies, Ltd (Acq 1925) ****Eimer & Amend (Acq 1940) ****E. Machlett & Sons (Acq 1957) ****Janssen Chimica ****Eastman Kodak Company (Organic Chemicals division) ****Apogent Technologies Inc. (Acq 2004) ****Athena Diagnostics (Acq 2006) *** Thermo Electron ****Kendro Laboratory Products (Acq 2005) ****Rupprecht and Patashnick Co., Inc. (Acq 2005) ****NITON LLC (Acq 2005) ****InnaPhase Corporation (Acq 2004) ****US Counseling Services, Inc. (Acq 2004) ****Jouan SA (Acq 2004) ****Laboratory Management Systems, Inc. (Acq 2003) ** Phadia (Acq 2011) ** Life Technologies (Acq 2013) *** Invitrogen Corporation (Merged 2008) ****NOVEX ****Research Genetics, Inc (Acq 1999) ****Ethrog Biotechnology ****Molecular Probes ****Dynal ****Panvera ****InforMax ****BioSource ****CellzDirect ****Zymed ****Caltag Laboratories ***

Applied Biosystems Applied Biosystems is one of various brands under the Life Technologies brand of Thermo Fisher Scientific corporation. The brand is focused on integrated systems for genetic analysis, which include computerized machines and the consumables used w ...

(Merged 2008) **Advanced Scientifics (Acq 2015) **Alfa Aesar (Acq 2015) **

(Acq 2016) ***Genetic MicroSystems (Acq 1999) ***Neomorphic (Acq 2000) ***ParAllele Bioscience ***

USB Corporation USB Corporation offers life science products for use in basic research, drug discovery and molecular diagnostics. The company history reaches back to the 1980s, as United States Biochemical, known for Sequenase DNA Polymerase, a genetically modif ...

(Acq 2008) ***Panomics (Acq 2008) ***True Materials (Acq 2000) ***eBioscience (Acq 2012) **Compendia Bioscience (Acq 2012) **FEI Company (Acq 2016) ***FEI Company (Merged 1997) ****Field Electron and Ion Co. (Est 1971) **** Philips Electron Optics ***Micrion (Acq 1999) **MTI-GlobalStem (Acq 2016) **Finesse Solutions, Inc. (Acq 2017) **Core Informatics (Acq 2017) **

Patheon Patheon is a service brand within Thermo Fisher Scientific’s brand portfolio. Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services offered under the Patheon brand include small molecule API, biologics, viral vectors, cGMP plasmids ...

(Acq 2017) ***Agere Pharmaceuticals (Acq 2015) ***Gallus Pharmaceuticals (Acq 2014) *** Royal DSM NV (Pharmaceutical div, merged 2014) ***MOVA (Acq 2004) ***Banner Pharmacaps (Acq 2013) **Brammer Bio (Acq 2019) **Phitonex, Inc. (Acq 2020) **Henogen S.A. (Acq 2021) **Mesa Biotech, Inc. (Acq 2021) **

(Acq 2021) ***Acurian (Acq 2013) ***Evidera (Acq 2016) ***Medimix (Acq 2019) **PharmaFluidics (Acq 2021) **PeproTech (Acq 2021) **The Binding Site Group (Acq pending)

Research partnership

In September 2017, Thermo Fisher Scientific signed an agreement with the Institute of Pathology Heidelberg (IPH) to establish its Center of Molecular Pathology at

Heidelberg University } Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, ...

Hospital as the newest member of the Next Generation Sequencing Companion Dx Center of Excellence Program (COEP). The initiative focuses on establishing strategic collaborations with leading, European-based organizations that can lead studies using Thermo Fisher's Oncomine portfolio of research panels destined for development as companion diagnostics to help drive precision

oncology Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis and prevention of cancer. A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''. The name's etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγκος (''ó ...

in the region.

Controversies

Xinjiang

In February 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific announced that it would stop selling its equipment in

Xinjiang Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwes ...

. In June 2020, Thermo Fisher Scientific was reported to sell its equipment to security services in China for use in what was alleged as part of a genetic surveillance program. A report from the

Australian Strategic Policy Institute The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is a defence and strategic policy think tank based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, founded by the Australian government and funded by the Australian and overseas governments, industry ...

found that Thermo Fisher Scientific collaborated with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security to develop a Huaxia PCR amplification kit specifically to identify the genotypes of Uyghur,

Tibetan Tibetan may mean: * of, from, or related to Tibet * Tibetan people, an ethnic group * Tibetan language: ** Classical Tibetan, the classical language used also as a contemporary written standard ** Standard Tibetan, the most widely used spoken diale ...

and Hui ethnic minorities. In June 2021, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' reported that, despite bans, Thermo Fisher Scientific equipment continued to be sold to police in Xinjiang.

HeLa cells

In October 2021 the estate of Henrietta Lacks sued to get past and future payment for the alleged and widely known unauthorized sale by Thermo Fisher Scientific of her HeLa cells which are essential in many types of research. Over 50 million tons of her cells have been produced and used in over 60,000 scientific studies touching virtually every realm of medicine, including the development of polio vaccines, gene mapping,

in-vitro fertilization In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro ("in glass"). The process involves monitoring and stimulating an individual's ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova (egg or eggs) ...

, and multitudes more. In May of 2022, it was announced Thermo Fisher Scientific went to court to seek a dismissal of the lawsuit.

Mexican plant

In 2013, Opengate Capital Group LLC filed suit against Thermo Fisher Scientific for selling it a manufacturing plant controlled by a drug cartel. According to Opengate Capital, the company withheld important documents and pressured employees into concealing the presence of the gang.

References

External links

{{Authority control Biotechnology companies of the United States Life science companies based in Massachusetts Research support companies X-ray equipment manufacturers Laboratory equipment manufacturers Technology companies based in Massachusetts Manufacturing companies based in Massachusetts Companies based in Waltham, Massachusetts American companies established in 2006 Manufacturing companies established in 2006 Biotechnology companies established in 2006 2006 establishments in Massachusetts Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange American brands