MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Mirus Bio for $600 million. This deal is anticipated to close in Q3 of 2024.
Mirus Bio was founded in 1995 by the late Jon Wolfe, PhD, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin. Wolfe published early research suggesting that mRNA would be useful in vaccines. The company, based in Madison, WI, specializes in the development and commercialization of transfection reagents that play a critical role in the production of viral vector-based gene therapies. For example, one of these reagents, TransIT-VirusGEN, is designed to enhance the delivery of packaging and transfer vector DNA to suspension and adherent HEK 293 cell types in order to increase production of recombinant lentivirus and adeno-associated virus (AAV). Mirus Bio’s transfection reagents strengthen MilliporeSigma’s upstream portfolio.
“Viral vector-based cell and gene therapies have demonstrated their potential with more than 20 approvals over the last 10 years and will continue to advance, with a projected growth of 30% until 2028,” said Matthias Heinzel, member of the executive board and CEO Life Science, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
MilliporeSigma’s Process Solutions business provides solutions for viral vector manufacturing to advance cell and gene therapies from preclinical through commercial production. The portfolio includes cell lines, cell culture media, processing chemicals and buffers, enzymes, as well as systems, filters, hardware, and consumables. Its portfolio covers a variety of viral vector types, including adeno-associated virus, lentivirus, and adenovirus. Additionally, MilliporeSigma’s Life Science Services business offers both contract testing services and a suite of comprehensive CDMO services for viral vector manufacturing.
“We have been driving innovation in nucleic acid delivery for two decades,” said Dale Gordon, CEO of Mirus Bio. “MilliporeSigma’s broad portfolio, scale, and global reach, combined with our leading transfection reagents, will help take our business to even greater heights and allow us to serve more customers, and ultimately patients, worldwide.”
