Indian CDMO, Aragen, has secured a USD 100 mn investment from Singapore-based private equity firm Quadria Capital to enhance the company's capacity and multi-modality services - including the expansion of its infrastructure and capabilities in areas such as oligonucleotides, peptides, ADCs, biology services, and biologics, and to integrate AI and machine learning into its drug discovery and manufacturing processes.

Biologics and biosimilars CDMO, Tanvex, has successfully completed its acquisition of Bora Biologics, a subsidiary of Bora Pharmaceuticals. The companies will merge their biosimilar expertise and Tanvex’s FDA-licensed commercial-scale facility in San Diego with Bora Biologics' early-stage biologics CDMO capabilities in Taiwan to offer comprehensive, efficient end-to-end biologics solutions.

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has acquired a UK-based biotech, Oxular, which specializes in retinal diseases to enhance its ophthalmology portfolio. The acquisition includes Oxular's proprietary ocular delivery technology and its Phase 2 therapy, OXU-001, which are currently under investigation for diabetic macular edema.

California-based, Lifecore Biomedical, has partnered with Nirsum Laboratories to provide CDMO services to support the clinical development of Nirsum's leading candidate for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD), NRS-033. With the drug entering Phase 2 clinical trials, Lifecore will provide filled syringes for the studies.

Merck has entered into an exclusive global license agreement with China's Hansoh Pharma to develop and commercialize HS-10535. The investigational oral GLP-1 receptor agonist is currently in preclinical stages and adds to Merck’s existing obesity treatment portfolio.

AI antibody therapeutics company, iBio, has entered a USD 29 mn agreement with AstralBio to develop a preclinical anti-myostatin antibody, IBIO-600, aimed at promoting weight loss while preserving muscle mass. Preclinical studies of IBIO-600 have already demonstrated the drug’s ability to inhibit myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle growth, thus suggesting its potential to enhance muscle preservation during weight loss.

ActiGraph, a leader in wearable digital health technology, has acquired Biofourmis Connect, a division of Biofourmis specializing in AI-driven digital trial platforms for life sciences.

Novo Holdings has finalized its USD 16.5 bn acquisition of leading CDMO, Catalent, after the deal passed months of debate over potential antitrust issues involving U.S. authorities and the European Commission.

German CDMO Adragos Pharma has acquired Swiss manufacturer Baccinex, marking the addition of its sixth global manufacturing site and strengthening its position in sterile manufacturing. The facility, based in Courroux, Switzerland, specializes in fill-finish services for clinical trials and small-to-medium-scale commercial production. It will continue to operate under the leadership of founder and CEO Ursula Bausch.

South Korean pharma, Boryung Corp., has announced a partnership with Taiwanese CDMO Lotus Pharmaceutical, for services focused on cytotoxic drugs and will take on the role of manufacturing an anticancer injection for Lotus.

Munich-headquartered pharmaceutical CDMO, Adragos Pharma, has expanded its global footprint by acquiring Swiss aseptic fill-finish manufacturing company, Baccinex, as it targets expanding its capabilities in sterile production through the acquisition of its sixth worldwide manufacturing site.

GSK has entered a partnership with Vesalius Therapeutics to develop treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and another unspecified neurodegenerative condition. Utilizing its proprietary platform, Vesalius will lead the drug discovery efforts, while GSK will have development and commercialization rights to the preclinical small molecule targeting Parkinson's, along with options to advance other programs.

BioNTech has announced plans to acquire clinical-stage biotechnology company, Biotheus, as the company looks to enhance its oncology strategy. This acquisition will grant BioNTech full global rights to BNT327/PM8002 - and investigational bispecific antibody targeting PD-L1 and VEGF-A - which has shown encouraging clinical activity in various tumor types.

UK-based, gene-to-GMP company, Ascend Advanced Therapies, has announced a partnership with EW Healthcare Partners as it targets enhanced U.S. operations and infrastructure. As part of the collaboration, Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL), a CDMO based in Rockville, Maryland, and a portfolio company of EW Healthcare Partners, will be integrated into Ascend and combining over three decades of development and manufacturing experience, whilst also expanding Ascend's GMP capacity for adeno-associated virus (AAV) production and fill/finish services.

Biologics CDMO, Avid Bioservices, Inc., has announced its acquisition by GHO Capital Partners LLP and Ampersand Capital Partners in an all-cash transaction totalling approximately USD 1.1 bn.

Nick Green, president and CEO of Avid, emphasized the benefits of partnering with experienced investors who bring expertise, networks, and capital to strengthen Avid’s foundation, with the new owners aiming to unlock Avid’s potential through expanded offerings, talent investment, and geographic reach, building on recent capacity upgrades and its exemplary team for sustained growth.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical and ICU Medical have entered a strategic partnership to strengthen the supply of intravenous (IV) solutions in North America. This collaboration aims to address existing shortages and improve the reliability of IV solution availability for healthcare providers. By combining Otsuka's pharmaceutical expertise with ICU Medical's manufacturing capabilities, the partnership seeks to enhance production efficiency and ensure a consistent supply of essential IV products across the region.

UK pharmaceutical company, Accord Healthcare, has secured a USD 63 mn joint investment with the UK government to enhance its Fawdon facility in Newcastle upon Tyne. The funding will introduce new production lines for a novel cancer drug and two autoimmune injectables, creating over 50 skilled jobs and ensuring the plant's long-term viability.

Korean biopharmaceutical company, Celltrion, has secured a $72.8 mn contract with TEVA Pharmaceuticals International for the development and manufacturing of the migraine treatment Ajovy.

The contract – which only runs until July 30, 2025 - represents 4.6% of Celltrion’s 2023 revenue but plans to establish a fully owned CDMO subsidiary by the end of 2024, with facility expansion set for next year.

Samsung has locked down a $1.2 bn contract with an unnamed Asia-based pharmaceutical company that’s expected to run through December 2037.

The manufacturing project, which will be carried out at Samsung’s biomanufacturing site in the Songdo area of Incheon, South Korea, brings the company’s total new contract value for the year to more than $3.3 bn.

In addition, the company is on track to complete its fifth production plant in Korea by the end of 2024 - a dedicated ADC facility in Incheon - which will add 180 kL to its existing 784 kL capacity and expected to go online in April 2025.

Radiopharmaceutical CDMO, SpectronRx, and Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, have announced advanced plans to establish a European radiopharmaceutical CDMO (rCDMO) facility, on the Belgian Nuclear Research Center premises in Mol, Belgium.

The collaboration will see both companies working together to meet the rising demand for radioisotopes, particularly Actinium-225, which plays a crucial role in targeted radiotherapies for cancer treatment. The facility will offer end-to-end solutions, from isotope production to radiopharmaceutical development and manufacturing, and strengthen Europe's position in the radiotherapy market.