While there are many exciting market segments, the market for cell and gene therapy CDMO services is one of the most fascinating. A decade ago, there were only a handful of market competitors. Today as we approach 2023, there are more than a hundred companies specializing in manufacturing and clinical trial support for cell and gene therapies (CGT)—and demand for their services continues to rise.
In addition to industry giants that include Lonza, Catalent, WuXi Advanced Therapies, Minaris Regenerative Medicine, and others, there are specialty CDMOs serving the cell and gene therapy (CGT) marketplace.
Specialty CDMOs Serving the CGT Sector
For example, FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics opened a $21M cGMP production facility to support its internal cell therapeutics pipeline, as well as serve as a CDMO for iPS cell products.
Similarly, Helixmith, a biotech company with an extensive gene therapy pipeline and a CAR-T program targeting solid tumors, expanded into CDMO services for early-stage CAR-T developers.
In other news, ThermoGenesis launched CDMO services with expertise in CAR-T cells, T cell receptor (TCR), tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs), natural killer cells (NKs), iPSCs, and MSCs.
Anemocyte announced itself as the first BMO (Biotech Manufacturing Organization) in the field of cell and gene therapies. In addition to building 2000 sq. metres of GMP and GMP-compliant facilities for the production of ATMP’s, its FLYn’ICE project is using drones equipped with cryogenic pods to achieve temperature controlled transit of cell and gene therapies.
Similarly, Excellos opened its doors with $15M in funding and access to one of the largest cellular material procurement portfolios yet to support cell and gene therapy manufacturing.
In another noteworthy event, RoslinCT, a cell and gene therapy CDMO in based in the UK, and Lykan Bioscience, a CDMO focused on cellular therapeutics in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, merged to form an international CDMO specializing in advanced therapeutics. The combined entity provides process development expertise and cGMP manufacturing for cell therapeutics, with a specialty in gene editing and iPSC capabilities.
Hefty M&A Deals for CGT CDMOs
Of course, there have been hefty M&A deals inked within the cell and gene therapy CDMO sector as well. Most recently, in February 2024, Novo Holdings announced it is acquiring Catalent in an all-cash transaction that values Catalent at an absolutely astounding $16.5 billion in enterprise value basis.
Additionally, in past years, industry behemoth Thermo Fisher Scientific snagged Brammer Bio for an astonishing $1.7 billion, while Catalent acquired Paragon Bioservices for an impressive $1.2 billion and MaSTherCell for $315 million.
In other industry consolidation, Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions (HCATS), apceth Biopharma GmbH, and Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. Regenerative Medicine now operate under the joint name of Minaris Regenerative Medicine, while Charles River Laboratories (CRL) acquired Cognate BioServices for a hefty price tag of $875 million.
To summarize, the total number of market competitors continues to rise, dominated by competitors within the United States, European Union, and China.
To have immediate access to all known cell and gene therapy CMDOs, claim the “Global Database of Cell and Gene Therapy CMOs and CDMOs, 2024.”
