Fujifilm Completes Acquisition of Kalon Biotherapeutics
Fujifilm announced the completion of its acquisition of Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC, marking an important new chapter in the emergence of the Texas biosciences industry as a center for world-class development and manufacturing of life-saving biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology while providing Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies with expanded capacity for its growing vaccine capabilities. The completion of the previously announced Purchase Interest Agreement of Kalon Biotherapeutics, LLC, was made with the owners of Kalon: the State of Texas, acting by and through the Office of the Governor, and The Texas A&M University System. The announcement was made jointly today by Governor Rick Perry; officials of FUJIFILM Corporation, FDBU and Mitsubishi Corporation; Kalon Biotherapeutics LLC; and the Texas A&M System. Going forward, the company is now known as FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Texas, LLC.
Founded in 2011 by the A&M System, Kalon is a biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization (CMO) with advanced technologies and facilities. It is a key subcontractor to one of the three Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop and manufacture medical countermeasures to protect public health in emergencies, including incidents of bioterrorism or an outbreak of pandemic influenza. The State of Texas provided funding for the development and support of this center though the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a world leader in cGMP biologics manufacturing, is taking an ownership position in Kalon Biotherapeutics, allowing an expansion of Fujifilm's capabilities to include viruses and viral/vaccine-based products and services. This investment will also provide leveraged biotechnology workforce recruitment to Texas and drive the state's expansion in biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals.
Texas has a dynamic biotechnology marketplace that yields an estimated annual economic impact of $75 billion. In 2013, one out of every fifteen U.S. biotechnology establishments was located in Texas. The establishment and growth of the biotech industry in Texas is largely due to the vision and leadership of the A&M System, with the support of Governor Rick Perry. Under Texas A&M System's leadership, the Bryan-College Station region has become a premier biotech location and international leader in all three areas of discovery, combining plant, animal and human scientific breakthroughs. Biotech companies from across the globe are utilizing the infrastructure pipeline at the A&M System and the surrounding corridor for speed-to-market services.
