Charles River Laboratories, a Wilmington, Massachusetts-headquartered contract research organization, has agreed to acquire Vigene Biosciences, a Rockville, Maryland-based CDMO specializing in viral vectors, in a deal worth up to $350 million ($292.5 million upfront and contingent additional payments of up to $57.5 million).

Vigene’s primary area of expertise is viral-vector manufacturing, which is used for gene therapies and gene-modified cell therapies. Vigene has expertise in adeno-associated virus production. Vigene also offers research-grade and cGMP plasmid DNA.

With operations based in Rockville, Maryland, Vigene will geographically expand and be complementary to Charles River’s existing gene-therapy CDMO capabilities in the UK and Sweden, which were acquired through the March 2021 acquisition of Cognate BioServices. Vigene will also support Charles River’s existing US-based cell therapy production capabilities and establish an end-to-end, gene-modified cell therapy service.

Vigene is expected to generate annual revenue of $30 million to $35 million in 2021.

In addition to the initial purchase price of $292.5 million, the transaction includes contingent additional payments of up to $57.5 million based on future performance. The transaction is expected to close in the beginning of the third quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory requirements and customary closing conditions.

Source: Charles River Laboratories