Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, through its US and Canada Life Science business MilliporeSigma will acquire life science company Mirus Bio for $600m.
Mirus Bio is part of Gamma Biosciences and is based in Wisconsin, US.
The company develops and commercialises transfection reagents like TransIT-VirusGEN.
Transfection reagents are used in the production of viral vectors for cell and gene therapies.
Mirus Bio’s acquisition is expected to advance the integrated offering for viral vector production of Merck.
The life science company also complements Merck’s existing portfolio for development and manufacturing of new modalities like cell and gene therapies.
Mirus Bio CEO Dale Gordon said: “We have been driving innovation in nucleic acid delivery for two decades.
“Merck’s broad portfolio, scale, and global reach, combined with our leading transfection reagents, will help take our business to even greater heights and allow us to serve more customers, and ultimately patients, worldwide.”
Merck’s life science division supplies a range of tools, chemicals, and consumables that expedite scientific advancements within the pharmaceutical field.
The portfolio includes a product lineup tailored for bioproduction processes.
The acquisition of Mirus Bio will support Merck’s plans to offer solutions for every stage of viral vector manufacturing. This will help in the progression of cell and gene therapies from preclinical stages to commercial-scale production.
Additionally, Merck has expertise in various viral vector categories like adeno-associated virus, lentivirus, and adenovirus.
In 2021, the German company opened a €100m viral vector contract development manufacturing facility in California.
Recently, Merck started a new €300m life science research centre at its global headquarters in Darmstadt.
Merck CEO and executive board chair Belén Garijo said: “This strategic acquisition is a further building block for accelerating growth in the break-through technologies of the future. As a leader in the production of viral vectors, our goal is to make the significant potential of cell and gene therapy available for patients worldwide.
“As a leading science and technology company, we are well-positioned to support our Life Science customers across the biopharmaceutical industry to bring new curative treatments to market.”
The deal, which is contingent on regulatory approval and other customary conditions, is expected to close in Q3 2024.
