Oxford Biomedica acquires ABL Europe

UK-based gene therapy services firm Oxford Biomedica has made good on its intentions with Institut Mérieux to acquire ABL Europe.  

The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) will add two facilities in Lyon and Strasbourg (France) to its network through this acquisition, along with more than 10 cell and gene therapy (CGT) programs with various vector types. 

This follows the announcement made on 

20 September 2023,

 of exclusive negotiations in relation to the proposed acquisition by Oxford Biomedica of ABL Europe.

“The acquisition of ABL Europe strengthens Oxford Biomedica’s operations as a CDMO in the cell and gene therapy space. We will now be establishing a significant presence in the EU, while also freeing up Oxford Biomedica’s capacity to better serve our growing client demand worldwide. We look forward to realizing the operational and commercial synergies of this acquisition in 2024 and beyond,” said Frank Mathias, CEO for Oxford Biomedica. 

As per the terms of the agreement, Oxford Biomedica will pay Institut Mérieux €15 million ($16 million) for ABL, while committing an additional €20 million for future funding to ABL Europe, which specializes in manufacturing viral vector therapies. 

ABL was acquired by bioMerieux, Inc. in the early 2000s and later spun out under the Institut Mérieux. In 2015, Institut Mérieux created the wholly owned subsidiary ABL Europe to lead ABL manufacturing operations in Europe. 

Meanwhile, the CDMO recently expanded to the US by establishing ‘Oxford Biomedica Solutions’ through a $130 million deal with Homology Medicines. Moreover, it also 

signed

 a licence and supply agreement with an unnamed US-based private biotech firm, to develop adoptive cell therapies. 

When contacted by this publication Oxford Biomedica did not disclose further details to this acquisition.