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Solvias Acquires Cergentis to Bolster Biologics and Cell & Gene Therapy Capabilities

Solvias | July 18, 2022 | Read time : 33:14 min

Solvias Acquires
Solvias, one of the world's leading independent pharmaceutical testing and manufacturing companies, announced today that it has acquired Utrecht, Netherlands-based Cergentis. The acquisition bolsters Solvias' platform of biologics and cell and gene therapy testing solutions.

According to pharmaceutical market intelligence provider, Evaluate, global sales of cell and gene therapies are projected to accelerate at a 63% compound annual growth rate through 2026. As more researchers leverage emerging genetic engineering techniques to develop complex, novel medicines, they require sophisticated solutions to analyze their safety and effectiveness.

With the addition of Cergentis, Solvias supports the increasing number of global pharmaceutical, biotech, and contract development and manufacturing organizations developing genetically engineered therapies with an expanded platform of testing services highlighted by

  • a highly scientific team possessing advanced degrees and deep expertise steeped in emerging genome techniques and evolving regulatory requirements
  • proprietary genomic analysis technology that delivers comprehensive data in a single experiment that enables effective decision-making and R&D program design
  • a global network serving customers across three continents
  • customized support for distinct genetic engineering applications, including cell and gene therapy, cell line development & genetically engineered models
  • specialized knowledge in genomic sequencing of early-stage cell lines to support one of the first steps in the R&D process
  • high-touch support encompassing end-to-end logistical services, digital project management and reporting capabilities to enable rapid turnaround time


"We are relentlessly focused on ensuring the safety of new therapies in development. Cergentis is a cornerstone acquisition that expands our solutions supporting complex and emerging therapies. We will continue to pursue strategic acquisitions that add specialized capabilities to our offering and advance our goal of being a forerunner in our industry."

Archie Cullen, CEO, Solvias

Joris Schuurmans, CEO, Cergentis, added:
"We are excited to become part of a global leader that complements our scientific expertise, innovation and customer service. Solvias and Cergentis share a deep commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality solutions and support to safely get their products into the hands of patients who need them."

Effective immediately, Mr. Schuurmans will join Solvias' leadership team and continue to lead operations for Cergentis.

Cergentis marks Solvias' second acquisition since partnering with health care investors Water Street Healthcare Partners and JLL Partners in 2020. The company has recruited industry leaders to join its board and commenced a program to significantly upgrade and expand its information technology platform and infrastructure to support its plans for global expansion.

Financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed. Achelous Partners served as the advisor to Cergentis on the transaction.

About Cergentis
Cergentis is a trusted genomics-focused biotechnology company providing services and in-house solutions based on its proprietary genomic analysis platform to all leading biopharmaceutical companies and renowned research institutes. With widely published and recognized genetic analyses, Cergentis supports a global customer base in the characterization and QC of genetically engineered models, biopharmaceutical cell line development, and cell- and gene therapy products. By helping to de-risk R&D program decisions, minimizing time-to-clinic, providing objective genomic evidence for regulators, and supporting patient safety, Cergentis aims to support biopharmaceutical medicine development programs worldwide. 

About Solvias AG
Solvias is a worldwide leader in contract research, development and manufacturing for the pharmaceutical, biotech, material science and cosmetic industries. Drawing on 20 years of scientific excellence, the company provides flexible and scalable analytical and manufacturing solutions that ensure the integrity of pharmaceutical and medical device products across their life cycle. Headquartered in Kaiseraugst near Basel, Switzerland, Solvias and its laboratories operate to the highest standards and in accordance with ISO, GMP, GLP and FDA regulations.

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Patent Awarded for Primary Template-Directed Amplification, Further Strengthening BioSkryb Genomics’ Core Technologies

Businesswire | August 21, 2023

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Businesswire | August 02, 2023

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Patent Awarded for Primary Template-Directed Amplification, Further Strengthening BioSkryb Genomics’ Core Technologies

Businesswire | August 21, 2023

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Businesswire | August 11, 2023

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We have full confidence that Mary and the experienced TriSalus team will continue working to meet significant unmet medical needs and delivering value to shareholders.” The Company’s new board of directors consists of Mats Wahlstrom, Mary Szela, Sean Murphy, Kerry Hicks, Dr. Anil Singhal, Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Kelly Martin, David J. Matlin and Dr. Arjun (“JJ”) Desai. Szela continued, “We welcome Andy, Kelly, JJ and David to the Board and look forward to benefiting from their experience across the medical technology, pharmaceutical, healthcare and financial industries. Innovative Device Technology Combined with Immunotherapeutic Platform Creates Significant Upside Potential Fast-Growing Core Device Business: TriSalus' commercial stage, FDA cleared TriNav® Infusion System includes the proprietary SmartValve technology. SmartValve enables precision delivery of therapeutics to tumors using the Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery™ (PEDD) approach. The PEDD approach has been shown to modulate pressure and flow, increasing therapeutic delivery to the tumor while decreasing exposure in normal tissue – an important goal for interventional radiologists focused on better outcomes with less toxicity. PEDD brings the potential to improve patient outcomes and also brings additional expansion opportunities through the delivery of a wide variety of therapeutics. TriNav achieved $8.4 million and $12.4 million in net sales in 2021 and 2022, respectively, and is on track to generate approximately $19.2 million in net sales in 2023. Robust Device Pipeline: TriSalus' technology pipeline includes a range of devices that use technology expected to substantially improve therapeutic delivery. An FDA cleared delivery system for infusing immunotherapy into pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients is currently under study at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The pipeline also includes a full suite of devices that allows interventional radiologists to optimize therapy delivery across the broad range of solid tumor types, vessel sizes, and with greater precision using intra-procedural flow dynamic data. The first new device expected in the expanded toolkit is the TriNav LV device, designed to optimally address larger vessel sizes, which received 510(k) clearance by the FDA in May 2023 and is targeted for commercial launch in the first half of 2024. To accelerate TriSalus’ strategy, James “Jim” Alecxih was recently appointed as President, Device Technology Business. Jim will oversee the development and expansion of the Company’s portfolio of innovative infusion technologies. Therapeutic Platform in Clinical Development: TriSalus is developing SD-101, an investigational immunotherapeutic designed to improve patient outcomes by treating the immunosuppressive environment created by many tumors – an environment that can make current immunotherapies ineffective in the liver and pancreas. SD-101 is a class C TLR9 agonist with a dual mechanism of action and a differentiated profile versus other TLR agonists. In solid tumors, the drug alters the tumor microenvironment by reducing immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) while simultaneously stimulating multiple immune cell types. Patient data generated during Pressure-Enabled Regional Immuno-Oncology™ (PERIO) clinical trials support the hypothesis that SD-101 delivered via PEDD may have favorable immune effects within the liver and systemically. Currently SD-101 is being studied in three clinical trials for patients with uveal melanoma with liver metastases, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In the studies reported to date, SD-101 in combination with systemic checkpoint inhibition and delivered with PEDD, achieved high concentrations in the liver with minimal systemic exposure and was well tolerated based on a low SD-101 treatment related serious adverse event rate of 5%, and resulted in immune cell activation and natural killer cell expansion. The immune effects in liver metastases and the blood are consistent with broad tumor microenvironment modulation and the ability of SD-101 to deplete MDSCs in the liver. These findings were highlighted during an oral discussion session at ASCO 2023. Additional Phase 1 data readouts for the PERIO clinical trial program are planned in the fourth quarter of 2023 and a Phase 2 trial is scheduled to be initiated in the second half of 2023. Well Positioned with Cash Runway: Proceeds raised in connection with the merger with MedTech, including proceeds from the recently closed private placement transaction and amounts remaining in the MedTech trust account, along with cash on hand, provides a cash runway through mid-2024 to fund key milestones. About TriSalus Life Sciences TriSalus Life Sciences® is an oncology company integrating novel delivery technology with immunotherapy to transform treatment for patients with liver and pancreatic tumors. The Company’s platform includes devices that utilize a proprietary drug delivery technology and a clinical stage investigational immunotherapy. The Company’s two FDA-cleared devices use its proprietary Pressure-Enabled Drug Delivery™ (PEDD) approach to deliver a range of therapeutics: the TriNav® Infusion System for hepatic arterial infusion of liver tumors and the Pancreatic Retrograde Venous Infusion System for pancreatic tumors. PEDD is a novel delivery approach designed to address the anatomic limitations of arterial infusion for the pancreas. The PEDD approach modulates pressure and flow in a manner that delivers more therapeutic to the tumor and is designed to reduce undesired delivery to normal tissue, bringing the potential to improve patient outcomes. SD-101, the Company’s investigational immunotherapeutic candidate, is designed to improve patient outcomes by treating the immunosuppressive environment created by many tumors and which can make current immunotherapies ineffective in the liver and pancreas. Patient data generated during Pressure-Enabled Regional Immuno-Oncology™ (PERIO) clinical trials support the hypothesis that SD-101 delivered via PEDD may have favorable immune effects within the liver and systemically.

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Replimune and Incyte Enter into Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement to Evaluate RP1 and INCB99280 in Patients

Businesswire | August 02, 2023

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