Sigma-Aldrich Corporation’s (SIAL) analytical products and services research business – Supelco – has brought into the market the Ascentis Express 2.0 micron. It is a high-speed, ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (“UHPLC”) column platform built on Fused-Core particle design. It has been geared to offer UHPLC performance,and address the drawbacks faced in the existing sub-2 micron UHPLC columns.
The columns of Ascentis Express are efficient as they can provide 300,000 plates per meter and are less prone to column plugging due to the large 1.0 μm frits on the column inlet. Moreover, the Ascentis Express columns can diminish the problems of column frictional heating and depreciation of instruments as even after being used to a 1,000 bar (14,500 psi), the columns produce 20% lower back pressure than the sub-2 μm UHPLC columns.
These columns have both speed and efficiency required in research and applied markets. The company intends to popularize these in pharmaceutical drug development and clinical diagnostics and testing fields.
This is a strategic move on the part of Sigma-Aldrich in expanding the Ascentis Express range to 2.0, 2.7, 5 micron particle UHPLC columns and making it available in 11 different dimensions and two introductory phases, C18 and F5, to make it accessible to the research community and growing needs for the UHPLC market.
Recently, Merck KGaA’s (MKGAF) agreement to acquire Sigma-Aldrich for $140 per share in cash, or a total of $17 billion, has already created a buzz in the market. This acquisition by Merck KGaA indicates a big development in the life sciences business and an increase of its presence in North America and the fast-growing markets in Asia. The deal is expected to be immediately accretive to Merck KGaA’s earnings per share and also offer annual synergies of roughly $340 million, expected to be fully realized within three years after transaction closure.
The merger will create a big player in the $130 billion global life science industry. The integrated company will be able to cater life science customers globally with a highly attractive set of established brands and an efficient supply chain that can facilitate the delivery of over 300,000 products.
Sigma-Aldrich currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the specialty chemicals- industry include Flexible Solutions International Inc. (FSI) and Tronox Limited (TROX). Both stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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