apceth Biopharma GmbH, a contract manufacturing organization in the field of cell and gene therapy has announced that Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. will enter into an agreement to acquire all shares of apceth Biopharma GmbH. This acquisition is expected to close in April 2019.

Christine Guenther, MD, CEO of apceth Biopharma said, “We are very pleased to become part of Hitachi Chemical. Our combined strengths within Hitachi Chemical will allow us to manufacture complex cell and gene therapies for clients in North America, Asia, and Europe. This will allow our clients to supply patients around the world with highly needed innovative and high-quality cell and gene therapies.”

Manfred Ruediger, Chairman of the Board of apceth said, “apceth had been built by a great team and strong support of its shareholders into Europe’s leading independent cell therapy manufacturer. We are very proud that these joint efforts resulted in apceth Biopharma now being chosen as Hitachi Chemical’s hub for cell therapy in Europe.”

Helmut Jeggle, Managing Director of Santo Holding (Deutschland) GmbH said, “We are proud having been able to accompany apceth on its successful journey from its foundation in 2007 until today. We are very pleased to have found an excellent partner for apceth’s future endeavors with Hitachi Chemical.”

Robert A. Preti, CEO and President of Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions, LLC and General Manager of the Hitachi Chemical Regenerative Medicine Business Sector said, “The addition of apceth Biopharma to Hitachi Chemical will strengthen our presence in the second-largest cell and gene therapy market in the world, and enable us to offer a truly harmonized global operation, providing our customers with ready access to new markets and maximizing the value we bring to the industry.”

With the acquisition of apceth, Hitachi Chemical will be expanding its business presence footprint in Europe―the world’s second-largest market for regenerative medicine after the United States.