Samsung Biologics has signed a USD 1.4 bn contract with an undisclosed European pharmaceutical company, involving the manufacturing of a biomedicine at its Songdo, Korea, facilities from late 2024 through 2030. As a result of the contract, the company now collaborates with 17 of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical firms.

Two Australian CDMOs, BioCina and NovaCina, have announced a strategic merger to operate as a single contract manufacturing company under the BioCina name.

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.