History

Founded in 1966 by a Danish medical doctor, Niels Harboe, Dako is headquartered in Denmark with manufacturing and research sites in Glostrup, Denmark and Carpinteria, California, USA.

Dako earned its reputation for innovation and quality by introducing the first conjugated antibodies for immunohistochemistry 40 years ago. In the 1960s several companies were producing antisera, but the strength varied greatly, presenting significant challenges for hospitals, which had difficulties using the antisera for the evaluation of patient samples.

Niels Harboe realized the importance of obtaining a supply of antibodies for analytical purposes that was of the same strength at all times. He founded his own company, DAKOPATTS.

A discovery in early 1967 made it possible to standardize the strength of antibodies in a usable product. Soon antibodies became a useful tool for hospitals, to the benefit of patients all over the world.

Since then Dako has continously been a driver in developing the field of cancer diagnostics introducing pharmDx, Special Stains, Image Analysis and Pathology Workflow.


Corporate Milestones

2008

Beckman Coulter buys Dako’s Flow Business Unit
Dako’s Flow Business Unit in Colorado, USA has been sold to Beckman Coulter. Thereby Dako’s focus on anatomic pathology, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and reagents for flow cytometry is strengthened.
 
2007

Dako launches Dako Link - Integrated Workflow Solutions
Never before has Dako launched so many important products at one time. The Dako Link solution offers software, instruments, reagents and connectivity options customized to meet the needs of any pathology laboratory. Dako Link substantially improves cost efficiency and turnaround time in the lab by linking together the entire workflow.

Dako gets new owner
Private equity fund EQT V (“EQT”) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Dako. The total consideration for the transaction is DKK 7.25 billion.
 
2006

Dako launches ACIS® III
Dako launches the newest addition to our growing portfolio of automated platforms, ACIS® III. With a new sophistication, ACIS® IIII is enhancing the lab’s workflow to include advanced image analysis benefits in a simple manner. Pathologists now have the capability to improve their workflow, turnaround time, and experience cost savings.

Dako's Microbiology business sold
The sale of the microbiology activities to Oxoid is part of Dako’s strengthened focus on anatomic pathology. Dako’s microbiology range will gradually be rebranded as Oxoid and products should be ordered via Oxoid.
 
2005

Change of name
The company changes its name from DakoCytomation A/S to Dako A/S.

Microbiology up for sale
DakoCytomation sharpens its focus on cancer diagnostics by putting its Microbiology activities up for sale.

Agreement on image analysis
DakoCytomation enters an agreement with Clarient Inc. on the further development and sale of its ACIS instruments, which are used for image analysis. The agreement is part of Dako’s strategy to automate more areas of the workflow in the pathology laboratory and to offer more integrated systems to the market for cancer diagnostics.
 
2002

Acquires instrument business
DakoCytomation acquires the Artisan™ instrument business from CytoLogix Inc. Artisan™ is a state-of-the-art tissue staining instrument.

Merges with bioinstrumentation company Cytomation and becomes DakoCytomation
DAKO, the world-leading producer of cancer diagnostic reagents, merges with the Fort Collins-based bioinstrumentation company Cytomation Inc. The purpose of the merger is for the two companies to utilize their common competencies to further strengthen their position in the fast-growing market segments of the in vitro diagnostics industry. Cytomation was originally founded in 1988 in Colorado by one American and three Australian scientists who were convinced that the industry-standard flow cytometer could do a better job.
 
2001
Sells Boston Probes
DAKO sells Boston Probes Inc. to Applied Biosystems Inc.
 
1998
Launch of HercepTest™
The joint approval of Herceptin™ (Genentech) and HercepTest™ (Dako's pharmDx test) was the first example in history of a pharmaceutical product directly linked to a specific test.

 
1992
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk A/S invests in DAKO
 
1991
Acquires Novo Nordisk Diagnostics
DAKO acquires Novo Nordisk Diagnostics (activities in microbiology) in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
 
1990
DAKOPATTS changes name to DAKO
 
1980
Establishes subsidiaries
In the 1980s DAKOPATTS establishes more sales subsidiaries around the world.

 
1979
Enters the United States of America
DAKOPATTS Corporation is founded in the USA.
 
1966
Founded in Denmark
DAKOPATTS is founded in Denmark. DAKOPATTS’ initial product series was purified polyclonal antibodies.