Charles River Laboratories Acquires Vigene Biosciences

GI Partners Completes Acquisition of Charles River’s CDMO and Cell Solutions Businesses, Forms Rose BioSolutions

May 8, 2026

Healthcare Services

GI Partners completed its acquisition of the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and Cell Solutions businesses from Charles River Laboratories, creating an independent advanced therapy manufacturing company, Rose BioSolutions. Rose BioSolutions will provide end-to-end cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing, covering plasmid DNA, viral vectors, cell therapy production, and cellular starting materials.

Agilent Technologies Acquires BIOVECTRA for $925M

July 22, 2024

Pharmaceuticals

Agilent Technologies has acquired BIOVECTRA, a Canada-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), for $925 million. The acquisition — a purchase from H.I.G. Capital — expands Agilent's CDMO capabilities across biologics, HPAPIs, pDNA/mRNA and LNP formulation, and integrates BIOVECTRA into Agilent's Diagnostics and Genomics Group.

Genezen Acquires uniQure's Commercial Gene Therapy Manufacturing Operations in Lexington, MA

July 1, 2024

Biotechnology

Genezen has acquired uniQure's commercial gene therapy manufacturing operations and licensed viral-vector facility in Lexington, Massachusetts. The deal (funded in part by growth equity from Ampersand Capital Partners) transfers a commercially licensed AAV-capable manufacturing site and team to Genezen and includes strategic supply agreements to support uniQure's clinical portfolio and CSL Behring's commercial HEMGENIX product.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Acquires ViaCyte for $320M

July 11, 2022

Biotechnology

Vertex Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire clinical-stage cell therapy company ViaCyte for $320 million in cash. The deal gives Vertex additional stem cell lines, IP and GMP manufacturing capabilities intended to accelerate its VX-880 and other cell replacement therapy programs for type 1 diabetes.

Charles River Laboratories Acquires Retrogenix

March 31, 2021

Biotechnology

Charles River Laboratories has acquired Retrogenix Limited, a UK-based contract research organization specializing in cell microarray technology for target receptor identification and off-target profiling. The transaction was for approximately £35 million in cash with up to an additional £5 million contingent on performance, and Retrogenix becomes part of Charles River's Discovery and Safety Assessment segment to expand large-molecule and cell therapy discovery capabilities.

Charles River Laboratories Acquires Cognate BioServices

February 17, 2021

Biotechnology

Charles River Laboratories agreed to acquire Cognate BioServices for approximately $875 million in cash, expanding Charles River's capabilities into the high-growth cell and gene therapy CDMO sector. Cognate, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee with over 500 employees, will provide Charles River integrated cell and gene therapy development, testing, and CGMP manufacturing capabilities; the deal was expected to close by end of Q1 2021.