Date: 2014-12-18
Type of information: Company acquisition
Acquired company: Kalon Biotherapeutics (USA - TX)
Acquiring company: FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A (USA - NC)
Amount:
Terms: * On December 18, 2014, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies U.S.A. Inc. (FDBU), a FUJIFILM Corporation subsidiary, announced the completion of its acquisition of Kalon Biotherapeutics, marking an important new chapter in the emergence of the Texas biosciences industry as a center for world-class development and manufacturing of life-saving biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology while providing FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies with expanded capacity for its growing vaccine capabilities. The completion of the previously announced Purchase Interest Agreement of Kalon Biotherapeutics was made with the owners of Kalon: the State of Texas, acting by and through the Office of the Governor, and The Texas A&M University System. The announcement was made jointly by Governor Rick Perry; officials of FUJIFILM Corporation, FDBU and Mitsubishi Corporation; Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC; and the Texas A&M System. Going forward, the company is now known as FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, LLC. Per the Interest Purchase Agreement, FDBU acquired 49 percent of the total membership interests in Kalon, and will be entitled to appoint a majority of Kalon’s board members. Hereafter, FDBU may increase its interest share up to 100 percent, based on achievement of certain milestones. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will support current Kalon operations at the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing and a pandemic vaccine manufacturing facility currently under construction. The Kalon innovative facility design utilizes state-of-the-art mobile clean rooms that can be operated independently or in various paired arrangements to meet customer project needs. The acquisition will expand FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ leadership in applying most advanced single-use technology to include high-containment biomanufacturing capabilities. Further, it safeguards continued close business collaboration between the A&M System and the State of Texas to ensure maximum support for customer programs coming to the Kalon facilities.
Details: Founded in 2011 by the A&M System, Kalon is a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization (CMO) with advanced technologies and facilities. It is a key subcontractor to one of the three Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop and manufacture medical countermeasures to protect public health in emergencies, including incidents of bioterrorism or an outbreak of pandemic influenza. The State of Texas provided funding for the development and support of this center though the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Kalon enables rapid, cost-effective drug development through a flexible and scalable clinical manufacturing platform with capabilities to support all classes of biological drug products, including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, cellular and gene therapies. Kalon is a key partner of the Texas Biocorridor’s “One-Stop- Shop” Biotech Infrastructure Pipeline, to discover new therapies in plant, animal and human health; perform preclinical evaluations; and utilize flexible, scalable Biotech Infrastructure Pipeline biopharmaceutical manufacturing, all in one convenient location.
Related: Technology - Services CMO
