Charles River Laboratories Acquires Cellero

Charles River Laboratories Acquires Explora BioLabs

April 6, 2022

Biotechnology

Charles River Laboratories has acquired Explora BioLabs Holdings, a San Diego–based provider of contract vivarium services, for approximately $295 million in cash. The deal expands Charles River’s CRADL footprint with more than 15 additional vivarium facilities (bringing expected combined capacity to at least 25 sites and ~300,000 sq ft by end of 2022) and adds complementary preclinical vivarium management capabilities and clients.

AccelLAB Management Acquires AccelLAB from Charles River Laboratories

January 18, 2024

Medical Devices

Key members of AccelLAB's management team acquired AccelLAB from Charles River Laboratories, and the business will operate independently as a standalone preclinical CRO serving the medical device and biologics markets. Fairmount Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Charles River in the divestiture; AccelLAB employs approximately 100 staff across facilities in Boisbriand and Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.

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.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Acquires Brammer Bio for $1.7 Billion

March 25, 2019

Biotechnology

Thermo Fisher Scientific agreed to acquire Brammer Bio, a viral vector CDMO focused on gene and cell therapies, for approximately $1.7 billion in cash. The deal expands Thermo Fisher’s pharma services and viral vector manufacturing capabilities to support high-growth gene and cell therapy markets and brings a team of nearly 600 employees into its pharma services business.

Clinical Reference Laboratory Acquires Confirm BioSciences

December 9, 2020

Healthcare Services

Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL), a large privately held clinical testing laboratory, has acquired Confirm BioSciences, a San Diego–based provider of screening tools and consumer-facing testing products. The acquisition will have Confirm operate as a subsidiary and is intended to expand CRL's lab testing and R&D capabilities while leveraging Confirm's large retail/customer base and COVID-19 testing pipeline.

Charles River Laboratories Acquires Vigene Biosciences

May 17, 2021

Biotechnology

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.