Merck to distribute HistoCyte Laboratories’ cell line products

Pharmaceutical company Merck has signed an agreement to become the exclusive multinational distributor of HistoCyte Laboratories’ portfolio of cell line reference products for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation.

The financial details of the agreement were not divulged.

Under the agreement, Merck will distribute HistoCyte Laboratories’ full range of pathology slide controls in the US and other selected regions.

HistoCyte Laboratories will continue to distribute its products in the other geographies through its own channels.

Merck Life Science Applied Solutions business unit head Jean-Charles Wirth said: "This collaboration gives customers a cost-effective and practical solution to the problem of tissue heterogeneity.

"This collaboration gives customers a cost-effective and practical solution to the problem of tissue heterogeneity."

"These reference materials strengthen Merck’s pathology portfolio and provide a robust and standardised means for customers to achieve greater confidence in their analyses."

He added that the HistoCyte Laboratories’ cell preparations are different from conventional cell line preparations, where the company slides mimic tissue morphology and protein expression more aggressively compared to average cell line slide product.

Wirth said: "This is important in pathology and clinical research labs where standardised tissue preparations may be in short supply, causing issues for reliable analysis and diagnosis, as well as cost."

The distribution agreement is also expected to strengthen the footprint of HistoCyte Laboratories in the US and beyond.

Additionally, it will enable the company to focus on the domestic markets of the UK and Ireland, as well as emphasise on product development.