shutterstock_716579470_nespix
nespix / Shutterstock.com
17 April 2019Americas

Catalent to buy $1.2bn gene therapy company

Contract drug manufacturer Catalent has agreed to acquire Paragon Bioservices, a viral vector development and manufacturing partner for gene therapies, for $1.2 billion.

The move, which will boost Catalent’s gene therapy manufacturing capabilities, was  announced on Monday, April 15.

John Chiminski, Catalent’s chair and CEO, said: “Paragon’s unparalleled expertise in the rapidly growing market of gene therapy manufacturing will be a transformative addition to our business that we believe will accelerate our long-term growth.”

Paragon, which is backed by private equity firms NewSpring Health Capital and Camden Partners, focuses on developing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, the most commonly used delivery system for gene therapy, and other gene therapies.

Over the past 25 years, Paragon has partnered with biotech and pharma companies to develop and manufacturer gene therapies, next-generation vaccines, oncology immunotherapies, therapeutic proteins, and other complex biologics.

Pete Buzy, Paragon’s president and CEO, added: “This transaction will enable us to achieve our next stage of development and expand our capabilities and platform for the benefit of our customers and their patients.”

This is the latest deal in spate of merger and acquisition activity in the gene therapy field.

In February, Switzerland-based Roche  announced plans to buy gene therapy company Spark Therapeutics in a $4.3 billion deal. Under the deal, Roche will acquire Spark’s lead clinical asset, a gene therapy for the treatment of haemophilia.

This was followed by biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific’s  announcement of its plan to acquire Brammer Bio, a viral vector manufacturer for gene and cell therapies, for $1.7 billion.

Did you enjoy reading this story?  Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox.


More on this story

Americas
26 March 2019   Biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced plans to acquire Brammer Bio, a viral vector manufacturer for gene and cell therapies, for $1.7 billion.
Americas
25 February 2019   Switzerland-based Roche will buy gene therapy company Spark Therapeutics in a $4.3 billion deal.

More on this story

Americas
26 March 2019   Biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced plans to acquire Brammer Bio, a viral vector manufacturer for gene and cell therapies, for $1.7 billion.
Americas
25 February 2019   Switzerland-based Roche will buy gene therapy company Spark Therapeutics in a $4.3 billion deal.