Solvias Boosts Testing Services with Cergentis Buy
Solvias, a Swiss CDMO serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, material science and cosmetic industries, has acquired Dutch biotech Cergentis for an undisclosed sum. The deal bolsters Solvias’ platform of biologics and cell and gene therapy (CGT) testing solutions.
Based in Utrecht, Cergentis provides services based on its proprietary genomic analysis platform, supporting customers in the characterization and quality control of genetically engineered models, development of biopharmaceutical cell lines and CGT products.
Archie Cullen, CEO of Solvias, said: “Cergentis is a cornerstone acquisition that expands our solutions supporting complex and emerging therapies. We will continue to pursue strategic acquisitions that add specialized capabilities to our offering and advance our goal of being a forerunner in our industry."
Joris Schuurmans, CEO of Cergentis, will continue to lead his company’s operations and will also join Solvias’ leadership team with immediate effect.
According to pharmaceutical market intelligence provider Evaluate, global CGT sales are projected to accelerate at a compound annual growth rate of 63% through 2026. As more researchers leverage emerging genetic engineering techniques to develop complex, novel medicines, they require sophisticated solutions to analyze their safety and effectiveness, Solvias said.
The acquisition is the second for Solvias since partnering with health care investors Water Street Healthcare Partners and JLL Partners in 2020. A first purchase, in June 2021, was Chemic Laboratories, based in Canton, Massachusetts, USA. Solvias said this deal gave it a strong foothold in the US and highly complementary laboratory testing capabilities.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
