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LifeScan, Inc.
Industry Medical devices
Headquarters
Area served
Global
RevenueUS$1.5 billion (2017) [1]
Number of employees
2,400(2020) [2]
Parent Platinum Equity

LifeScan, Inc. is a diagnostic systems manufacturer with products focusing on the diabetes market, specifically blood glucose monitoring systems.

History

LifeScan was a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) company. [2] [3] It was acquired by J&J in 1986, and in June 2018, J&J agreed to sell LifeScan to Platinum Equity as part of its strategic exit from the diabetes device market, accepting an offer originally tendered in March 2018. [1] The divestiture completed in October 2018. [1] [4]

LifeScan manufactures and markets the OneTouch Ultra and OneTouch Verio families of products for home use. [1] The company philosophy is to "create a world without limits for people with diabetes." During its existence, LifeScan revolutionized blood glucose monitoring by introduction of its "One Touch" systems. Originally, the measurement was made using a test strip which changed color depending on the glucose content of a blood sample, and LifeScan rose to become the world-leading producer of such systems in the early 1990s. Later, the measurement technology was changed to electrochemistry, but LifeScan maintained a leading position in the industry.

LifeScan has facilities in Inverness, Scotland; Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; and Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Animas Corporation of West Chester, Pennsylvania, which produced insulin pumps for people with diabetes, was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2006 and now closed, reported to LifeScan.

LifeScan, which employed 2400 people as of early 2018, was the central part of J&J's diabetes device business. [2] J&J announced plans to exit from the diabetes device market in 2017, including divesting LifeScan. [2] In January 2018, there were reports of Chinese investors expressing interest in purchasing the company for US$3 to 4 billion, while in March, Platinum Equity offered the far smaller sum of US$2.1 billion for the unit. [2] [5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Nawrat, Allie (June 15, 2018). "Johnson & Johnson sells LifeScan to Platinum Equity". Pharmaceutical Technology. Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Panchadar, Arjun (16 March 2018). "Johnson & Johnson nears diabetes device exit with $2.1 billion LifeScan sale". Reuters. Additional reporting by Caroline Humer and Munsif Vengattil; S D'Souza, P Berlowitz (editors). Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  3. ^ About Us | LifeScan, Inc." LifeScan. Retrieved on September 18, 2014.
  4. ^ LaVito, Angelica (October 16, 2018). "Johnson & Johnson beats expectations as cancer drugs, new baby care products help boost sales". CNBC.
  5. ^ "Johnson & Johnson Announces Binding Offer from Platinum Equity to Acquire LifeScan, Inc". Content Lab - U.S. 16 March 2018.

External links