Bio-Rad Laboratories has reached an agreement to acquire US-based biotechnology company RainDance Technologies in order to expand into next-generation sequencing applications and foster its position in Droplet Digital PCR.

Also based in the US, the acquirer company provides life science research and clinical diagnostic products.

US-based healthcare company Eli Lilly and Company is set to acquire CoLucid Pharmaceuticals for up to $960m in a tender offer representing a consideration of $46.5 a share.

CoLucid is a biopharmaceutical company also based in the US.