Charles River Laboratories Acquires Explora BioLabs

Charles River Laboratories Acquires Cellero

August 6, 2020

Biotechnology

Charles River Laboratories (CRL) completed the acquisition of Cellero, a provider of donor and patient apheresis services, GMP-grade biomaterials, and custom laboratory services, for approximately $38 million in cash. The purchase, from Ampersand Capital Partners, expands Charles River's capabilities and offerings in cell and gene therapy support services worldwide.

Discovery Life Sciences Acquires ReachBio Research Labs

April 11, 2023

Biotechnology

Discovery Life Sciences has acquired Seattle-based ReachBio Research Labs to expand its cell biology, toxicology and drug screening capabilities. The acquisition strengthens Discovery's preclinical development and multi-omics service offering, enabling customers to access a broader set of predictive cell-based assays for hematologic diseases, immunology, oncology and cell & gene therapy programs.

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.

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.

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.

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.