Aceto makes further inroads into biopharma space, buys up A&C Bio Buffer

12-Oct-2021 - Last updated on 13-Oct-2021 at 08:14 GMT

Martin Barraud

Aceto expands GMP product lines for biopharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing with acquisition of A&C Bio Buffer, growing its manufacturing footprint and strengthening its presence in Europe.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A&C Bio Buffer has a GMP custom buffer and chemical blend portfolio for the biopharma sector. It was established in 2017 and is the only company in Ireland that manufactures biological buffers with Water for Injection (WFI); in total, it makes over 50 products in its facility in Limerick.

This deal follows Aceto’s acquisition earlier this year of A&C, a global manufacturer of GMP specialty excipients and custom process solutions.

Aceto manufactures and supplies over 3,000 chemical compounds used principally by the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, agricultural and specialty chemical industries. Its global operations include a significant presence on the ground in China, India, Europe and North America. In just two years it has made six acquisitions of firms, giving it expanded manufacturing, R&D and portfolio offerings.

A&C Bio Buffer as a reliable buffer outsourcing partner, said Aceto, as it has a combination of advanced manufacturing capabilities, expertise, robust quality management systems, technical excellence, commitment to transparency and a customer-centric approach.

“A&C Bio Buffer is a natural add-on to our acquisition of A&C and aligns with our commitments to the biopharmaceutical space,” said Gilles Cottier, CEO, Aceto. “Its rapid growth reflects a reputation for service and quality, which recently led to its key role in the raw material supply chain for COVID-19 vaccines.”

Last year, A&C Bio Buffer flagged how it was approached by BioNTech and was asked to develop three GMP buffers and WFI, essential materials in its experimental mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing process, with it reporting that it was required to develop, manufacture and deliver the GMP materials in four weeks, around five times faster than the industry norm for GMP buffer development projects.