Biotechnology Acquisitions in Ohio

Calibre Scientific has acquired Molecular Research Center, Inc. (MRC), an Ohio-based developer and manufacturer of reagents and kits for RNA and DNA isolation and analysis. The acquisition expands Calibre Scientific's life‑science reagent and molecular biology product offering and strengthens its capabilities in nucleic acid isolation technologies.

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. will acquire Forge Biologics in an all-cash transaction valued at $620 million, expanding Ajinomoto's gene therapy and plasmid/AAV manufacturing capabilities. Forge, a Columbus, Ohio–based viral vector and plasmid CDMO with a 200,000 sq ft cGMP facility and ~300+ employees, will become a consolidated subsidiary to accelerate global gene and cell therapy manufacturing capacity.

Vector Laboratories has acquired Quanta BioDesign, the inventor of discrete polyethylene glycol (dPEG) technology, expanding Vector's bioconjugation linkers, dyes and payload delivery capabilities. The Plain City, Ohio-based company's dPEG reagents will broaden Vector's product portfolio and support life science and biopharma customers in therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications.

Calibre Scientific has acquired the NeXtal Biotechnologies line of structural biology products (including EasyXtal crystallization plates) from Qiagen NV. The purchase expands Calibre's structural biology and protein crystallization product portfolio, supplying academic, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical customers.