BioLife will boost its cell and gene therapy offerings by acquiring Cook Regentec spin out firm, Sexton Biotechnologies.

BioLife Solutions has purchased the remaining shares of Sexton, a firm that provides manufacturing services for the cell and gene therapy industry, in a deal valued at $24 million.

Sexton has two product lines; processing and handling solutions and cell performance supplements, which it uses to support cell and gene therapy production.

Image: Stock Photo Secrets

Its portfolio includes human platelet lysate (HPL) media, a bio-defined replacement for fetal or human serum used in cell production, closed vials for cell therapy packaging, and automated cell processing machines.

The firm’s CellSeal closed vial technology was used by Bristol Myers Squibb for its recently US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CAR-T for lymphoma, Breyanzi. Sexton claims its Signata CT-5 platform is the first “truly flexible” fluid management system for cell therapy processing and fill.

According to Sexton, the aforementioned bioproduction tools are currently being used in more than 50 ongoing clinical trials.

“Sexton’s cell processing platform is novel and has the potential to disrupt traditional cell therapy manufacturing workflows by improving quality and efficiency while consolidating several processing steps,” said Aby Mathew, CEO at BioLife.

“Their tools are synergistic with our portfolio and are supported by a growing body of literature that highlights the benefits of using Sexton’s solutions.”

BioLife plans to keep all Sexton employees and will also gain its facility located in downtown Indianapolis, US.

A string of acquisitions

Over recent years, BioLife has made several acquisitions. Its merger with developer and manufacturer of ultra-low temperature freezers Stirling Ultracold in March was the company’s fifth deal in two years.

In April 2019, the firm acquired Astero Bio, a maker of automated thawing devices for cell and gene therapies, for $8 million.

Three months later in July 2019, the firm bought SAVSU Technologies, a manufacturer and developer of cloud-connected passive storage and transport containers for temperature sensitive biologics and regenerative medicines.

In the same year, BioLife bought Custom Biogenic Systems (CBS) and noted its profile of liquid nitrogen lab freezers and cyrogenic equipment, design and manufacturing capabilities as its motivation.

And last September, BioLife bought SciSafe, a privately held multi-facility provider of biological materials storage to the cell and gene therapy and pharmaceutical industries, for $30 million.

Furthermore, In December 2020, BioLife invested in iVexSol and PanTHERA CryoSolutions, which increased its scope in the cell and gene therapy space.

The deal between BioLife and Sexton is now closed.