BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Akron Biotechnology, LLC (Akron Biotech), which develops and manufactures cGMP-compliant cytokines and other ancillary materials to enable cell and gene therapy development and commercialization, today announced its expansion to a second manufacturing facility in the US. Akron Biotech has acquired a state-of-the-art 60,000-square-foot biologics manufacturing site in Sarasota, FL, bolstering the company’s US capacity and strengthening its position as the industry’s premier ancillary materials supplier. The site will be operational later this year.
“We are expanding to meet the growing demand for validated, cGMP-compliant materials as the regenerative medicine and advanced therapy industry moves more and more products through late-stage clinical development and towards commercialization,” explained Claudia Zylberberg, PhD, Founder and CEO of Akron Biotech. “The new site will enable us to scale up our production capacity while remaining committed to providing our customers with high quality materials that allow them to deliver safe and effective cell and gene therapies.”
The Sarasota site will facilitate rapid growth in each of the company’s three main cGMP business verticals: cytokines and growth factors, growth and cryopreservation media, and viral inactivated human-derived media supplements. It also enables the company to add cGMP-compliant plasmid development and production to its custom development and manufacturing services, addressing one of the central bottlenecks in the cell and gene therapy industry.
In September 2019, Arcline Investment Management (“Arcline”), a private equity firm with $1.5 billion of committed capital, acquired a majority interest in Akron Biotech. Arcline is working with the Akron team to build new capabilities and expand manufacturing capacity, strengthening its portfolio of ancillary materials and development and manufacturing services.
“Akron is an ideal partner in the cell and gene therapy space,” said Arcline. “We are committed to accelerating the company’s growth as part of our dedication to the emergent regenerative medicine industry.”
Akron will continue to manufacture its flagship cytokine product portfolio (IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, and others) at large scale and under cGMP compliance at its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility overseas. The company will retain its global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Boca Raton, FL. The Sarasota site will be configured to support the production of the company’s cGMP-compliant product portfolio, as well as to scale its media development services in addition to building its plasmid manufacturing capabilities.
About Arcline
Arcline is a private equity firm with $1.5 billion in capital, investing in niche, market-leading companies that it is passionate about growing. Arcline approaches investments from multiple perspectives but share a single vision – to identify and unlock the breakout potential in its companies. Some of the company’s primary interest areas include Life Sciences, Industrials, Technology and Specialty Chemicals.
About Akron Biotechnology
Akron is a leading materials manufacturer and services provider to the regenerative medicine industry, accelerating the development and commercialization of advanced therapies. Founded by Claudia Zylberberg, PhD, in 2006, Akron is an ISO 13485-certified company that operates in line with cGMPs and international standards, enabling advanced therapy developers to de-risk their supply chains and facilitate regulatory approval. The company's unique business model emphasizes knowledge, flexibility and unparalleled service—from development through to commercialization. For more information, please visit www.akronbiotech.com.
