Genea Biomedx has struck a ­global deal with German healthcare giant Merck to commercialise and market the Australian fertility company’s flagship ­technologies.

Genea general manager Kim Giliam said the deal signalled a “significant future” for the ­Australian company.

“It is the small Aussie technology company that has come up with a good idea that has been validated by a big pharma company without losing any equity in the process.”

Mr Giliam said the company’s board had made a strategic decision in 2010 to start a process of diversification.

Genea then invested $29.7 million over three years into ­research and development that produced three products: Gavi, an automated machine that freezes embryos; Geri, an incubator for the embryos that ­includes a camera in each chamber; and Gems, the liquid the ­embryos are grown in.

For more details, go to: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/genea-in-global-fertility-deal-with-merck/story-fn91v9q3-1227373479097