Merck KGaA has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mirus Bio in a deal worth $600m, which will complement its current portfolio of novel modalities.
Anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2024, the transaction will help to advance Merck’s viral vector manufacturing therapies from preclinical through to commercial production.
Novel modalities such as cell and gene therapies, antibody-drug conjugates or mRNA, have a major impact on patients, of which viral vectors play a key role in the production processes.
Since 2019, the overall number of cell and gene therapies in development has doubled and the global market for process products for these modalities are expected to increased by around 20% per year over the mid-term.
As part of the deal, Mirus Bio will combine its leading technology, TransIT-VirusGEN, a transfection reagent used to introduce genetic materials into cells, with Merck’s bioprocessing expertise and portfolio to provide solutions for viral vector development and manufacturing.
Able to be used across a variety of cell culture systems, the TransIT-VirusGEN is a high-performance reagent for packaging and transferring vectors to adherent or suspension HEK293 cell types, with a streamlined recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV), lentivirus production workflow and DNA delivery.
While also covering a variety of viral vector types, including AAV, lentivirus and adenovirus, Merck offers contract testing services in addition to a wide range of comprehensive contract development and manufacturing services for viral vector manufacturing, specifically supporting cell and gene therapies on the path to commercialisation.
Matthias Heinzel, chief executive officer, life sciences, Merck, commented: “Combining Mirus Bio’s leading technology with Merck’s bioprocessing expertise and portfolio allows us to provide solutions for almost every step of viral vector development and manufacturing.
“We are now well-positioned to support our customers in this fast-growing market to positively impact the lives and health of patients worldwide.”
Most recently, Merck entered into a multi-year partnership worth over £1.4bn with Caris Discovery to accelerate the development of antibody-drug conjugates for cancer patients.
The collaboration will utilise Caris’ artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, as well as patient tissue repository and its ADAPT Biotargeting platform to discover new therapeutic targets, while Merck is responsible for preclinical and clinical research, as well as development and commercialisation of the resulting candidates.