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In a transaction expected to close by the end of this year, Agilent Technologies Inc., a life sciences organization that produces analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, has acquired Biovectra—a specialized contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that supports early-stage clinical development to large-scale commercial manufacturing—for $925 million.1
The company works with both biotech and pharmaceutical companies in North America and Europe by manufacturing biologics and highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs), along with other molecules for targeted therapeutics.
The deal is centered on Agilent’s CDMO capabilities—specifically pertaining to CRISPR therapeutics—and will have three focal points:
- Portfolio growth: Biovectra provides sterile fill-finish services, pDNA and mRNA capabilities, and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation.
- Addition of growing modalities: Agilent will be able to leverage Biovectra’s knowledge of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), HPAPIs, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
- Gene editing services: Biovectra’s capabilities in biologics, along with Agilent’s guide RNA (gRNA) capabilities, reportedly offer customers a single gene-editing tech source.
Both parties operate as fully integrated CDMOs plants that abide by current good manufacturing practices (cGMP).
“We look forward to welcoming Biovectra to Agilent,” said Padraig McDonnell, Agilent’s president and CEO. “The company has an outstanding record of innovation, and its employees share our commitment to providing integrated biopharma solutions that continuously deliver more value to customers. Plus, Biovectra’s manufacturing capabilities further expand Agilent’s end-to-end biopharma offerings into new growth vectors, including workflows that seamlessly integrate analytical instrumentation, consumables, and a wide range of lab services.”
“Biovectra is excited to join Agilent, a company whose dedication to people and customers is very much aligned with ours,” noted Oliver Technow, CEO of Biovectra. “Biovectra has dedicated nearly 55 years to the relentless pursuit of helping our customers solve complex problems that improve patients’ lives. This synergistic pairing of our capabilities with Agilent’s will further enhance the value we can offer to our customers.”
In other Agilent news, earlier this year, the company reached an agreement with Incyte2 that would leverage Agilent’s track record in the development of companion diagnostics (CDx) to support the development and commercialization of Incyte’s hematology and oncology portfolio. This comes at a time when the value of the companion diagnostics market is anticipated to grow to $13.74B by 2030, propelled by the ability of these tests to inform treatment decisions for various cancers and other chronic diseases.
“Leveraging the power of companion diagnostics, we are strategically transforming the treatment paradigm for a broad spectrum of cancers,” said Paul Beresford, VP and general manager of Agilent’s companion diagnostics division. “By working together, Agilent and Incyte hope to expedite the development of innovative precision medicine products, potentially paving the way for enhanced patient health outcomes.”
References
1. Agilent to Acquire North American CDMO Biovectra. Agilent. July 22, 2024. Accessed July 23, 2024. https://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2024/22jul-gp24018.html
2. Agilent Announces Collaboration with Incyte to Develop Advanced Companion Diagnostics in Hematology and Oncology. Agilent. January 30, 2024. Accessed July 23, 2024. https://www.agilent.com/about/newsroom/presrel/2024/30jan-ca24002.html