We just turned 60!
In 1963, driven by a mission to improve public health, Alain Mérieux created BD-Mérieux, which would later become bioMérieux, a pure player of in vitro diagnostics.
60 years and incredible growth later, around 13,000 team members worldwide continue to work with passion on this mission and help make the world a healthier place.
We're excited to celebrate our history, our legacy, our teams, and the future of our Company this year!
Let us take you along the journey with dedicated content! Stay tuned as more is added regularly.
Once upon a time... bioMérieux
A human, scientific and industrial adventure, the history of bioMérieux has been an incredible family and entrepreneurial story since its creation in 1963.
Embark on a 5-episode journey to discover our 6 decades of commitment to improving health worldwide!
- 🎙️ #1 - A start-up in the sixties
- 🎙️ #2 - The 80s, strategic acquisitions
- 🎙️ #3 - The 90s, taking off internationally
- 🎙️ #4 - From clinic to industry
- 🎙️ #5 - Molecular biology at the heart of innovation
A start-up in the sixties
Take a trip back to the 1960s with this first podcast that tells you about the early years of bioMérieux's creation.
Can't listen to the podcast? Download the transcript!
- Equipe
- Catalogue
- Lettre
- Stand
- Toxo
- Slidex
- Logo
Dick Dickinson, Thibault de Saint-Phalle, Amadeu Ferreira and Charles Mérieux, in 1963.
Dick Dickinson, Thibault de Saint-Phalle, Amadeu Ferreira and Charles Mérieux, in 1963.
In the summer of 1964, B-D Mérieux began its commercial activity with this very first commercial catalog
Letter sent to the analytical laboratories announcing the creation of B-D Mérieux in May 1964.
The first B-D Mérieux booth in Monaco in 1965.
In 1969, B-D Mérieux launched its first kit for the detection of toxoplasmosis by immunofluorescence.
Designed in 1974, the Slidex Meningitis kit was very innovative: for the first time, the diagnosis of an infectious disease could be made in 5 minutes without any prior culture.
1974 marks a turning point in the life of the Company, as B-D Mérieux becomes bioMérieux.
- équipe
- catalogue
- lettre
- stand
- toxo
- slidex
- logo
The 80s, strategic acquisitions
A series of successful acquisitions has given bioMérieux a truly international reputation. Listen to this second podcast to learn more!
Can't listen to the podcast? Download the transcript!
VITEK®, a history rooted in outer space
In 1988, bioMérieux made its mark in St. Louis with the acquisition of VITEK® Systems, Inc. Did you know that VITEK® was originally created in the 60's to analyze the microbial environment in a NASA space station?
VIDAS®, the immunoassay revolution
Watch how the VIDAS® range has steadily grown to adapt to evolving healthcare needs since 1991.
The 90s, taking off internationally
Welcome to the 90s! A period marked by tremendous business development for bioMérieux... Listen to this third podcast to learn more!
Can't listen to the podcast? Download the transcript!
From the clinic to the industry, a pioneer on all fronts
In 1992, while the United Kingdom and France were in the midst of the mad cow crisis, two major outbreaks of listeriosis and salmonellosis shook the European food processing industry, which did not have the means to deal with it at the time.
That was the year in which the bioMérieux industrial microbiology unit was established. The challenge was huge...
Can't listen to the podcast? Download the transcript!
Molecular biology at the heart of innovation
In 1985, scientists from a small California-based biotech company published an article in the Science journal describing a technique that could amplify a DNA fragment by several hundred thousand times.
This was the dawn of Polymerase Chain Reaction also known as PCR. It was to revolutionize the world of biomedical research and healthcare, particularly in relation to diagnostics...
Can't listen to the podcast? Download the transcript!
Want to discover more about our history? Check out the animations below!
Just like us, our logo has evolved through the years! Do you remember these vintage versions?
That's quite an evolution! Starting in France in 1963, with sites in 45 countries in 2023, check out our geographical growth through the years!
bioMérieux was founded in 1963, the company had 15 employees. Today, there are approximately 13,000 employees working to improve health around the world.
Over the past 60 years, the proportion of our sales generated outside France has grown steadily. Today, 93% of our turnover is generated outside France.
Welcome to bioMérieux!
We help make the world a healthier place.
This is the purpose that has guided all of our actions since our inception.
Delivering innovative, fast, accurate diagnostic solutions for your health all around the world, woking with values like respect and sharing, is at the heart of our commitment.
Discover all the ways we make a positive impact on the world!
- Our purpose
- Access to diagnostics
- Preserving our planet
- Our sites around the world
We help make the world a healthier place.
Our dedication to public health is the thread that connects everything we do.
It connects us to our history - since 1963, we have been fulfilling the vision of the Mérieux family to improve health, while maintaining the values of respect, accountability, transparency, and sharing.
Delivering innovative, fast, accurate diagnostic solutions for your health all around the world is at the heart of our commitment. Our presence is on-the-ground: active in many low- and middle-income countries, our teams are involved in research programs and grass-roots programs to provide an effective response to infectious risks.
We've be partnering with the Fleming Fund, a UK aid investment program, since 2019 to tackle antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries.
Embark on a journey to Bhutan to witness our latest intstruments installations and how they're game changers for local public health!
Preserving the planet as a healthy place to live is part of our commitment - so is providing our team members with inspiring work environments. More often that not, the two are a great combination!
Discover how we've helped biodiversity come back to our Craponne site in France. A great initiative that benefits nature as well as team members!
We're located in 45 countries, where each of our sites are carefully conceived to foster innovation, collaboration, and well-being. Discover our main manufacturing sites through our playlist!