Recipharm grows biologics business as it acquires Arranta Bio and Vibalogics

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Contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Recipharm, is now better placed to serve the advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) market through two deals announced today.

The Stockholm, Sweden headquartered company has acquired Arranta Bio and Vibalogics.

Those deals, said Recipharm, form a cornerstone of its strategy to provide innovative drug developers in the biologics market with scientifically differentiated contract development and manufacturing services, bringing a high degree of diversification across multiple technologies and modalities.

The acquisition of Arranta Bio establishes a robust US presence for the Swedish CDMO.

End-to-end mRNA capabilities

It noted that, under the stewardship of Mark Bamforth and backed by Ampersand Capital Partners, Arranta Bio has established a strong service portfolio, delivering microbiome therapeutic products and mRNA clinical production capabilities.

Arranta Bio has established a strong microbiome platform with fermentation and purification expertise for naturally-derived and engineered bacteria consortia, complemented by services in analytics, proprietary media and cryopreservative formulations. These services maximize yields and enhance viability for live biotherapeutic products that clients are testing in the clinic against a range of infectious, inflammatory, neurological, and oncological diseases.

“In addition, it is progressing the supply of end-to-end mRNA capabilities across drug substance and drug product under one roof, providing its customers with substantial time savings in product manufacturing and a hedge against supply chain challenges,” commented the Swedish organization.

Oncolytic virus expertise 

Vibalogics was also a portfolio company of Ampersand Capital Partners.  

Ownership of Vibalogics, said Recipharm, gives it capabilities in new biologics modalities, expertise in oncolytic viruses, viral vaccines, and viral vector gene therapies.

“Vibalogics is responding to the rapidly growing biopharmaceutical industry demand for specialized CDMO capabilities for the manufacture of live viruses and viral vectors including Herpes Viruses, Pox Viruses, Adenoviruses, and other viral classes for cancer and other applications.

“The company has seen rapid growth of its global customer base comprised of Big Pharma, mid-sized biotechs and start-ups requiring its unusual process expertise, capabilities and capacity for virus production. Continued investment, including its recent expansion in Germany and the US, has positioned it to support the full product lifecycle of its clients.”

The portfolio of those two CDMOs builds on the capabilities Recipharm acquired through the purchase, earlier this year, of GenIbet, a Portuguese CDMO, specializing in the manufacture of biological clinical trial material.