A history of innovation in infectious diseases
Marcel Mérieux, grandfather to the current President of bioMérieux, Alain Mérieux, first studied biology under Louis Pasteur. In 1897, he founded an analysis laboratory in Lyon that would become the prestigious Institut Mérieux. It was in this laboratory that Marcel Mérieux developed the first antitetanus sera.
In 1937, his son, Dr Charles Mérieux, took up the reins of his father’s laboratory after his death. In the 1940's, he introduced a technique developed by the Dutchman Frenkel - in vitro culture – which revolutionized the manufacture of vaccines and led to the production of reagents for in vitro diagnostic testing.
In 1963, Alain Mérieux took over the helm of B-D Mérieux, a 50/50 partnership between the Institut Mérieux and Becton-Dickinson, offering a broad range of products for analysis laboratories. When Alain Mérieux acquired the majority share in B-D Mérieux, in 1974, the company became bioMérieux.
Over the past 45 years, bioMérieux has developed into a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics. Our natural strategic focus continues to be the fight against infectious diseases, which remains the driving force behind our company.