Deal-Making

Gamma adds transfection reagents for RNA and gene therapy delivery in Mirus deal

Gamma Biosciences has acquired a controlling stake in lipid-polymer nanocomplex (LPNC) developer Mirus Bio, bolstering its cell line development, viral vector manufacturing, and cell engineering offerings. Investment firm KKR launched Gamma Biosciences last year to operate a portfolio of life sciences tools investments and acquisitions. The latest deal has seen Gamma take a controlling stake in Madison, Wisconsin-headquartered Mirus, a supplier of transfection reagents used to support gene therapy and messenger RNA vaccine production. Financial terms have not been divulged.…

Ins & outs: Resignations as Voyager Therapeutics tweaks strategy

Voyager Therapeutics CEO and CMO resign. Meanwhile, there are changes at Appia Bio and Acepodia. Get the kettle on, put your feet up, and enjoy BioProcess Insider’s Ins & outs. First up in this week’s Ins & Outs feature is Voyager Therapeutics, a firm focused on developing treatments for neurological diseases. The firm’s search for a new CEO is underway as Andre Turenne announced he will leave the firm in June to pursue undisclosed opportunities. To help with the transition,…

Cryoport increases global supply chain with F-Airgate acquisition

Cryoport will expand its presence in the EMEA region through the acquisition of Belgium-based temperature-controlled supply chain solutions firm F-Airgate. Cryoport, a temperature-controlled supply chain services company for the life sciences, has agreed to buy F-airgate, which will join Cryoport’s CRYOPDP business unit. No financial details have been divulged. “This acquisition will expand our coverage in Europe and enable us to provide end-to-end solutions to both global and local customers in Belgium, which is a highly strategic area for Pharma/BioPharma activity in Europe, 

Achilles turns to Autolomous digital tech to support T cell programs

Achilles Therapeutics will use a customized digital manufacturing system to support its T cell therapy programs. Developer and manufacturer of management systems for cell and gene therapies Autolomous will supply a bespoke version of its AutoIoMATE technology to T cell developer Achilles. Terms of the partnership have not been disclosed. “The AutoloMATE platform is an out-of-the-box system, which we configure and validate for the individual requirements of our customers,†Kwok Pang chief operating officer at Autolomous told BioProcess Insider. “Autolomous continually…

Bayer subsidiary Bluerock teams to develop cell therapies for eye diseases

BlueRock Therapeutics, Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, and Opsis Therapeutics have formed an R&D alliance to develop cell therapies for ocular diseases. The collaboration will see the firms merge their different expertise to discover and develop off-the-shelf induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell therapies. “This collaboration represents a step forward in building a portfolio of best-in-class cellular medicines with the potential to change the treatment paradigm and become standard of care for degenerative retinal diseases,†Emile Nuwaysir CEO at BlueRock told BioProcess Insider.…

Canada pays $164 million to add Resilience to pandemic prep effort

Canada has called on Resilience Biotechnologies to boost local COVID-19 shot capacity. The Canadian Government has given contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) Resilience Biotechnologies $164 million to modernize its recently acquired Ontario plant as part of a wider pandemic preparedness effort. The CDMO – which is part of San Diego, US based headquartered firm National Resilience – announced further details this week. It said the investment will increase manufacturing capacity for vaccines and therapeutics, including those based on mRNA that…

Chime’s in: Humanigen adds Chinese CDMO to support COVID mAb

Humanigen has contracted Chime Biologics to supply its potential COVID-19 therapy lenzilumab outside of the US. Lenzilumab is in late-stage trials as a treatment for ‘cytokine storm’, an overreaction of the immune system, which has occurred in those suffering from COVID-19. With planned emergency use authorization (EUA) submissions in the US by the end of May and in the UK and Europe thereafter, Humanigen has increased its manufacturing capacity through a contract with Wuhan, China-based Chime Biologics. “Globally there is…

Charles River to boost CDMO offering through $300m Vigene acquisition

Charles River Labs plans to buy gene-therapy focused CDMO Vigene Biosciences for $300 million, further expanding its presence in the manufacturing space. The deal – which values Vigene at $292.5 million – will add viral vector-based gene delivery solutions to the contract research organization’s (CRO) expanding contract manufacturing offering. The transaction is expected to close in the beginning of the third quarter. Charles River CEO James Foster said the purchase would “expand our comprehensive cell and gene therapy portfolio to…

Gingko adds fungal expression platform through Dutch DNA buy

Gingko adds large-scale protein production capabilities outside the US through its acquisition of fungal platform technology company Dutch DNA. Boston, Massachusetts-based Gingko Bioworks is expanding its operations beyond the US through its acquisition of Dutch DNA Biotech, which is based in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Gingko will acquire 100% of Dutch DNA shares in cash and equity, though no further financial details were divulged. However, there is potential for specific stakeholders to receive earn-outpayments dependent on commercialization and technical milestones. “Ginkgo…

Ins & outs: Catalent’s CFO heads to Zoetis

Catalent has named Thomas Castellano as its chief financial officer. Meanwhile, there are changes at Attralus Therapeutics and Centessa. Sit back, relax, and enjoy BioProcess Insider’s Ins & Outs. First up in our Ins & Outs feature is Catalent, which has named Thomas Castellano to succeed Wetteny Joseph as chief financial officer, effective June 1. Castellano currently serves at the contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) as global vice president of operational finance. Castellano joined the firm in 2008 as director…