Acquisition Brings Firm Footing for Stronger Market Presence

Contract development and manufacturing organisation apceth Biopharma GmbH, has been acquired by Hitachi Chemical Co Ltd, with proceedings expected to close in April 2019. A pioneer in cell and gene therapy, apceth has developed into a leading European CDMO for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). Its Munich-based facilities are fully compliant with all current EU ATMP regulations, BSL2 and ICH guidelines.

The acquisition gives Hitachi Chemical opportunity to expand its business presence footprint in Europe―the world’s second-largest market for regenerative medicine after the United States

“We are very pleased to become part of Hitachi Chemical. Our combined strengths within Hitachi Chemical will allow us to manufacture complex cell and gene therapies for clients in North America, Asia and Europe. This will allow our clients to supply patients around the world with highly needed innovative and high-quality cell and gene therapies”, said Christine Guenther, MD, CEO of apceth Biopharma.

“apceth had been built by a great team and strong support of its shareholders into Europe’s leading independent cell therapy manufacturer. We are very proud that these joint efforts resulted in apceth Biopharma now being chosen as Hitachi Chemical’s hub for cell therapy in Europe,” commented Manfred Ruediger, PhD, Chairman of the Board of apceth.

“We are proud having been able to accompany apceth on its successful journey from its foundation in 2007 until today. We are very pleased to have found an excellent partner for apceth’s future endeavors with Hitachi Chemical,” said Helmut Jeggle, Managing Director of Santo Holding (Deutschland) GmbH, majority shareholder of apceth.

“The addition of apceth Biopharma to Hitachi Chemical will strengthen our presence in the second-largest cell and gene therapy market in the world and enable us to offer a truly harmonised global operation, providing our customers with ready access to new markets and maximising the value we bring to the industry,” said Robert A. Preti, PhD, CEO and President of Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions, LLC and General Manager of the Hitachi Chemical Regenerative Medicine Business Sector.