Waters acquires MOBILion Systems

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) said it has acquired MOBILion Systems, Inc., the developer of SLIM high-resolution ion mobility separation technology used in complex molecular analysis. The deal broadens Waters' entry into the proteomics market by pairing SLIM with its Xevo MRT mass spectrometer.

MOBILion's SLIM technology separates molecules by size, shape and charge. Waters said the combination will support bottom-up proteomics, AI-enabled lab-in-the-loop research and a path from biomarker discovery to clinical validation, and could later support blood-based tests such as multi-cancer early detection and minimal residual disease monitoring. Waters estimated the LCMS proteomics market at a $2 billion total addressable market.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. MOBILion CEO Dr. Melissa Sherman said Waters is the ideal home for the technology, while Waters CEO Dr. Udit Batra said the deal gives Waters a unique advantage in proteomics.