Genetic Signatures and Microba Life Sciences have announced they are in preliminary discussions about a potential merger that would combine rapid infectious disease testing with gut microbiome profiling and create a larger ASX-listed diagnostics business.
Genetic Signatures, which develops PCR-based infectious disease tests under its EasyScreen brand, said the proposed combination would extend its gastrointestinal diagnostics offering and give the merged group broader access to pathology networks in Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Microba’s diagnostics business provides clinical-grade gut microbiome testing to healthcare professionals across those same markets, supported by distribution relationships with Sonic Healthcare and SYNLAB. The company also has a therapeutics pipeline that includes MAP 315, a Phase 2-ready asset for ulcerative colitis.
The companies said a combined business would cover a broader range of testing, from rapid first-line detection of infectious pathogens to metagenomic microbiome profiling. Genetic Signatures’ 3base platform is designed for high-volume hospital and pathology laboratories, while Microba’s technology focuses on analysing the gut microbiome's composition and function.
On a pro forma basis, the merged group would have generated about $29 million in revenue in the 2026 financial year and held about $30 million in cash and term deposits at 30 June.
Genetic Signatures said a merger could create a more sustainable financial and capital structure through a streamlined cost base and corporate framework, potentially accelerating growth and improving the path to profitability. It also said the combination would widen the route to market for both companies’ products through their existing laboratory, hospital and pathology relationships.
Genetic Signatures chair Caroline Waldron said the proposed combination offered synergies and greater scale as the company pursued shareholder value following its strategic review.
Microba chair Pasquale Rombola said the merger could create a leader in microbiome and infectious disease diagnostics with broader revenue and customer bases, as well as a stronger balance sheet to pursue international opportunities.
However, both companies stressed that the talks remain preliminary and incomplete. No binding decision has been made, no transaction terms have been agreed, and neither company is committed to proceeding.
