Arlington Capital Partners Acquires Charles River's Avian Vaccine Services to Form AVS Bio

Altura Capital Acquires Automation & Validation Solutions (AVS)

May 16, 2022

Healthcare Services

Altura Capital has acquired Automation & Validation Solutions, Inc. (AVS), a Blue Bell, Pennsylvania-based provider of engineering, automation, validation, and clinical solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, and diagnostic industries. The transaction was marketed by Woodbridge International; Altura, a Coral Gables-based social impact private equity firm, focuses on small and lower-middle market investments with an emphasis on underserved communities and diverse ownership.

AVS Bio Acquires ImmunoPrecise Antibodies (Europe) B.V.

August 6, 2025

Biotechnology

AVS Bio, a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has acquired ImmunoPrecise Antibodies (Europe) B.V., a carve-out from ImmunoPrecise Antibodies Ltd. The acquisition expands AVS Bio's European footprint and adds antibody discovery, recombinant protein expression, and organoid growth factor development capabilities to its biologics services platform.

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.

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.

Arlington Capital Partners Makes Majority Investment in Afton Scientific

January 30, 2024

Pharmaceuticals

Arlington Capital Partners has made a majority investment in Afton Scientific, a Charlottesville-based CDMO specializing in sterile injectable drug manufacturing and related lab/packaging services. The partnership will support Afton's capacity growth and expansion of service offerings while founder and CEO Tom Thorpe remains a material shareholder and will continue to lead the company.

FairJourney Biologics Acquires Charles River Laboratories' South San Francisco Facility

March 3, 2025

Biotechnology

FairJourney Biologics S.A. has acquired Charles River Laboratories' South San Francisco site (formerly Distributed Bio), including facilities, staff, assets and proprietary antibody libraries and yeast display technology. The acquisition expands FairJourney's antibody discovery and engineering capabilities and establishes a strategic presence in a major U.S. biotech hub to better serve biopharma customers.