Clinical Data Inc. made good on its pledge to focus resources on its late-stage products by agreeing to sell its Cogenics division to Beckman Coulter Inc. for about $17 million.

The division provides genomics services for pharma and biotech companies plus government agencies and researchers, including sequencing, gene expression, clinical and nonclinical genotyping, biomanufacturing support, nucleic acid extraction and biobanking.

The acquisition of Cogenics complements Beckman Coulter's Agencourt Biosciences' business, which delivers genomic services and nucleic acid purification products, and expands its reach into new territories.

Under terms of the agreement, Newton, Mass.-based Clinical Data will receive approximately $15.4 million at the closing, which is expected this month, and it expects to retain about $2 million in cash from Cogenics immediately prior to the sale. In exchange, Beckman Coulter will acquire all of Cogenics' operations in the U.S., UK, Germany and France.

Beckman Coulter, of Fullerton, Calif., said it will combine the Cogenics division with its own Agencourt Biosciences' business, which delivers genomic services and nucleic acid purification products.

Clinical Data said the sale completes a key element of its initiative to monetize noncore assets and focus resources on its two late-stage therapeutic programs: completion of second Phase III registration trial in the second quarter and a planned new drug application filing for vilazodone, a first-in-class drug candidate for depression and the start of a Phase III program for Stedivaze, being developed as a potential best-in-class cardiac stress agent.

Clinical Data came by Stedivaze through its 2008 acquisition of Adenosine Therapeutics LLC, which performed the successful Phase II testing.

Shares of Clinical Data (NASDAQ:CLDA) gained 61 cents, to close at $11.68.