Wacker Chemie has acquired a Dutch site for manufacturing biopharmaceuticals, live microbial products and vaccines, plus the associated business, from SynCo Bio Luxembourg, doubling Wacker Biotech’s overall capacity and strengthening the company’s pharma-protein business.
The Netherlands
“This strategic acquisition is a key step for our ongoing expansion in the high-growth biopharmaceuticals market,” explained Auguste Willems of Waker’s executive board. “The new plant will enable us to satisfy robust market demand today and in the coming years — and to strengthen our position as a leading contract manufacturer of microbial-derived biopharmaceutical proteins.”
“Expanding our production capacity strengthens our market position sustainably,” said Gerhard Schmid, president of Wacker Biosolutions. “The additional fermentation lines double our current capacity, which increases our ability to produce key pharmaceuticals cost effectively, using advanced microbial techniques. We look forward to continuing the comprehensive support for SynCo’s existing customers, while also offering them the proprietary technologies of Wacker Biotech. The acquisition will significantly expand our portfolio of technologies and services.”
Plant acquisition is a key step for Wacker, supporting ongoing expansion in the high-growth biopharmaceuticals market and securing sufficient GMP production capacities for existing and new customers.
Founded in 2000, SynCo Bio Partners of Amsterdam has some 110 employees and operates two fermentation lines with current capacities of 1,500 and 270 L. These lines manufacture microbial-derived biopharmaceuticals, not only for clinical testing, but also for the commercial market. There is a further line of single-use fermenters, which provides additional and flexible production capabilities. Additionally, there is a 'fill and finish' facility, enabling the complete manufacture of pharmaceuticals from the active agent to the filled product. The facilities meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) quality standards, and have already been inspected by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and approved for the manufacture of specific pharmaceutical proteins.
The employees of SynCo will be kept on and Wacker has prioritised the existing SynCo customer relationships. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.