USA – Bayer acquired Blackford Analysis, an Edinburgh, Scotland, UK-based provider of radiology AI platform technology.
The amount of the deal was not disclosed.With the acquisition, Bayer will drive innovation in radiology, including the development and adoption of AI within the clinical workflow, with the goal to improve patient care and advance its position in digital medical imaging. The acquisition follows a development and license agreement between both companies in 2020 that laid the foundation for Bayer’s recently launched medical imaging platform, Calantic™ Digital Solutions. Building on technology from Blackford and adding additional workflow and analytics components, Calantic Digital Solutions delivers access to applications, including those enabled by AI, for medical imaging.Following closing of the deal, Blackford Analysis will become part of Bayer’s “arm’s length” operating model to preserve the company’s entrepreneurial culture. Blackford will continue to operate as an independent organization on an arm’s length basis to preserve its entrepreneurial culture as an essential pillar for nurturing successful innovation. The company will remain accountable to advance its technology, channel partnerships and ClinApp portfolio while benefiting from the experience, infrastructure and reach of Bayer as a global pharmaceutical company. The acquisition is expected to close later this year, pending the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.Led by CEO Ben Panter, Blackford Analysis provides tailored tools and services to enhance imaging AI, drive efficiencies and improve patient outcomes. The company has worked in partnership with leading healthcare organizations and technology providers to integrate AI into clinical workflows to realize ongoing value. 19/01/2023
