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.

Ascend Advanced Therapies (Ascend), a gene-to-GMP development partner, has partnered with EW Healthcare Partners to expand the footprint and capabilities of the company in the US and to continue investing further in infrastructure. Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL), a biotherapy, oncolytic and viral vector contract development, and manufacturing organization (CDMO) located in Rockville, MD, a portfolio company of EW Healthcare Partners, will become part of Ascend. EW will also make a significant capital investment in Ascend to support continued growth of the company.

“We founded Ascend with a vision to quilt together the best operators and technologies within the advanced manufacturing field. The complementary services at ABL and Ascend will further strengthen our service offering to customers,” Fred Cohen, Chairman of Ascend and Founding investor at Monograph Capital offered. “We look forward to working with our new colleagues at the Rockville facility and our partners at EW.”

The addition of the ABL Rockville team and facility aligns more than three decades of development and manufacturing experience with additional virus modalities and GMP capacity for adeno-associated virus (AAV) production. The merger also expands fill/finish capacity in the US making the combined group one of the few suppliers with a comprehensive R&D to commercial offering in the market.

“This alignment deepens our already exceptional AAV expertise with the new team members from ABL. Not only are we expanding our GMP capacity, but this merger allows the team to offer customers an even more sophisticated gene-to-GMP experience,” Mike Stella, CEO of Ascend commented. “We are incredibly pleased to welcome EW Healthcare Partners as a new investor in Ascend and ABL to the Ascend family. The strong support from our existing investors has been instrumental in completing this transaction and will be crucial as we continue to drive growth in the new company.”

“We have known Ascend and followed its progress in creating effective and high-quality gene therapies, and have been impressed with how the management team, which we also backed at Cognate BioServices, has expanded the business. We are excited about merging ABL with Ascend to create a scalable CDMO that will serve as a global platform for the manufacturing of advanced therapies. We have considerable experience and expertise in this space and the combined company’s strategic plans are very well aligned with our long-term vision. We look forward to working with the Ascend and ABL teams to further growth”, concluded Evis Hursever, Ph.D., Managing Director of EW Healthcare Partners.

The merger complements an active year for Ascend, including operational investments and progress in the US and Europe. In Q2 of 2024, GMP capacity was purchased in Alachua, Florida that is undergoing a capacity expansion, including new fill/finish capabilities. In Munich, Germany, GMP quality control (QC) testing, analytical, and process development capacity are close to launch, and that facility is also in expansion.

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