Axol Bioscience Acquires Newcells Biotech's Ophthalmology Business

OrganaBio Acquires Excellos Operating Assets, Creating a Bicoastal Cell Therapy CTDMO

May 13, 2026

Healthcare Services

OrganaBio acquired substantially all of the operating assets of San Diego-based Excellos Inc. to establish a bicoastal cell therapy contract testing, development and manufacturing organization (CTDMO). The deal retains the core Excellos team and creates Excellos Labs, an OrganaBio subsidiary, expanding redundancy and geographic coverage for cell therapy services including PBMC isolation and cryopreservation.

Axol Bioscience Acquires Phenocell

October 21, 2024

Biotechnology

Axol Bioscience Ltd. has fully acquired Phenocell SAS, adding Phenocell’s iPSC-derived skin and retinal cell lines and custom bioassay services to Axol’s drug discovery product portfolio. The acquisition expands Axol’s capabilities into ophthalmology and dermatology (including AMD and cosmetics testing); financial terms were not disclosed.

Merck to Acquire EyeBio for up to $3 Billion

May 29, 2024

Biotechnology

Merck (through a subsidiary) will acquire Eyebiotech Limited (EyeBio) for up to $3.0 billion — $1.3 billion upfront in cash plus up to $1.7 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestones. The acquisition—expected to close in Q3 2024 and to be accounted for as an asset acquisition—adds EyeBio's ophthalmology-focused pipeline, including lead candidate Restoret (EYE103), to Merck's growing ophthalmology presence.

AnaBios Acquires Cell Systems

April 4, 2023

Biotechnology

AnaBios Corporation has acquired Cell Systems, a Kirkland, Washington supplier of human primary cells and cell culture media, to expand its human tissue and cell portfolio and accelerate translational drug discovery. Financing for the transaction was provided by AnaBios' existing investors, including Ampersand Capital Partners; financial terms were not disclosed.

Astellas Pharma Acquires Xyphos Biosciences

December 26, 2019

Biotechnology

Astellas Pharma has acquired Xyphos Biosciences, gaining Xyphos' ACCEL convertible-CAR technology platform and immuno-oncology talent. The deal included $120 million paid at closing and potential milestone payments bringing the total transaction value to up to $665 million.

Nicox S.A. Acquires Aciex Therapeutics, Inc.

July 2, 2014

Pharmaceuticals

Nicox S.A. agreed to acquire Aciex Therapeutics, Inc., a U.S.-based ophthalmic development company, in a share-exchange deal that will transfer 100% of Aciex to Nicox. The transaction (approved by Nicox shareholders on October 22, 2014) issues 20,627,024 new Nicox shares for Aciex equity and includes contingent value rights giving up to $55 million in potential additional consideration tied to FDA approvals, and is intended to broaden Nicox's ophthalmic development pipeline.