Biotechnology Acquisitions in Maryland

SK bioscience has invested USD 3 million to acquire a stake in Fina Biosolutions (FinaBio), a Rockville, Maryland–based developer of conjugate vaccine technologies and CRM197 protein manufacturing. The strategic investment makes SK bioscience FinaBio's first strategic investor and is intended to accelerate commercialization of FinaBio's EcoCRM and conjugation technologies while enhancing SK bioscience's vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities.

BiomX Inc. completed a stock-for-stock acquisition of Adaptive Phage Therapeutics (APT), making APT a wholly owned subsidiary and combining phage therapy capabilities and pipelines. Concurrently, BiomX raised $50 million in a private placement led by affiliates of Deerfield Management and the AMR Action Fund to advance two Phase 2 assets (BX004 and BX211) toward pivotal readouts in 2025–2026.

STEMCELL Technologies, Canada’s largest biotechnology company, acquired Propagenix Inc., a Gaithersburg, Maryland biotechnology firm focused on epithelial cell biology and its patented EpiX technology. The acquisition includes Propagenix’s assets, IP (including its Conditional Reprogramming license with Georgetown University) and existing business arrangements, enabling STEMCELL to develop EpiX-based products for clinical applications and expand its regenerative-medicine capabilities.

Vaccitech plc acquired US-based Avidea Technologies, Inc. for approximately $40 million (about $12.5M cash and $27.5M in Vaccitech ADS) plus potential milestone payments. The deal brings Avidea's SNAPvax™ nanoparticle platform and early-stage product candidates into Vaccitech's pipeline, expands Vaccitech's U.S. R&D presence, and adds Avidea co-founders to Vaccitech's scientific team.

Nephros, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEPH) acquired substantially all of the assets of GenArraytion, Inc., a Rockville, Maryland-based developer of infectious disease PCR assays and multiplexing technology. The acquisition gives Nephros access to GenArraytion's MultiFLEX bioassays and other proprietary assays, which will be integrated into Nephros' Pathogen Detection Systems platform, and GenArraytion's CEO Dr. R. Paul Schaudies will partner with Nephros' pathogen detection leadership.

Charles River Laboratories agreed to acquire Vigene Biosciences, a Rockville, Maryland-based gene therapy CDMO, for $292.5 million in cash plus up to $57.5 million in contingent payments. The acquisition expands Charles River's cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing capabilities—adding CGMP viral vector and plasmid DNA production—and is expected to close in early Q3 2021.

Neon Bloom, Inc. (OTC: NBCO) has completed an all-stock acquisition of 100% of Bazelet Health Systems, Inc., issuing 120,000,000 Neon Bloom common shares. The deal brings Bazelet’s plant science, CRISPR-based genome engineering capabilities and accredited cannabis education business under Neon Bloom to accelerate research, commercialization and expansion in the legal cannabis/hemp and life‑sciences markets.

Merck will acquire all outstanding shares of clinical-stage biopharmaceutical OncoImmune for $425 million upfront in cash, with additional sales-based and regulatory milestone payments possible. The deal centers on accelerating development of OncoImmune’s CD24Fc for severe and critical COVID-19; non-CD24Fc assets will be spun out into a new company in which Merck will invest $50 million for a minority stake.

Smiths Detection has completed the acquisition of PathSensors, a Baltimore-based biotechnology and environmental-testing company. The deal expands Smiths Detection's biological-detection capabilities, enhancing its ability to detect pathogens across end markets including food and agriculture safety and public health surveillance.

Catalent, Inc. completed the $1.2 billion acquisition of Paragon Bioservices, Inc., a viral vector development and manufacturing partner for gene therapies, expanding Catalent’s biologics and gene therapy capabilities. Paragon’s Baltimore-area facilities and ~380 employees will join Catalent’s global biologics platform, while Catalent secured financing including incremental term loans and a convertible preferred issuance to Leonard Green & Partners to support the transaction.