Seattle Biotechnology Company Sold

Genetic Systems Corp., a Seattle biotechnology company best known for its research on testing for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is being sold by Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co. to a unit of Sanofi of France.

Sanofi is 25-year-old conglomerate that specializes in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, ingredients for the food industry, agricultural and animal health products, and perfume and beauty products. Its stock is half owned by the Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine Group and half publicly traded.

The purchase of Genetics System brings to 17 the number of Sanofi's affiliates in diagnostics. Terms of the cash sale were not disclosed.

Genetic Systems was founded here in 1980 and sold to Bristol-Meyers in 1986. Its relationship with Sanofi goes back to 1984, when the two companies formed a joint venture, Blood Virus Diagnostics, to help develop specialized tests for viruses.

The Seattle company is not yet profitable, although Sanofi executives said it has annual sales of about $10 million now and may increase that to about $18 million next year. Sanofi estimated that its diagnostics division, of which Genetic Systems will be a part, will have $175 million in sales this year.

Terrance Bieker, president of Kallestad Diagnostics in Chaska, Minn., Sanofi's American affiliate, is a former Genetic Systems manager who left Seattle in 1988. ``We intend to manage Genetic Systems as it is now,'' he said.

Mark Fieczkarek, who has been vice president of operations and finance at Genetic Systems, has been named general manager here. Tim Ellis, who has been general manager, will remain with Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Bieker said.

Genetic Systems, which has about 150 employees, is hiring now because it is anticipating approval soon from the Food and Drug Administration to market a new AIDS virus test.

Bieker said he expects some additional manufacturing work also will be assigned here through the parent company. Whether that means additional hiring is not yet known, he said.

His company specializes in different health tests.

``There is no overlap or duplication of products with Genetic Systems. It's a good fit,'' he said.