Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has acquired Explora BioLabs Holdings, Inc., a provider of contract vivarium research services, based in San Diego, CA, for approximately $295 million in cash. Explora BioLabs offers contract vivarium operation services, providing biopharmaceutical clients with turnkey in vivo vivarium facilities, management, and related services to conduct their early-stage research activities. Explora BioLabs currently operates more than 15 preclinical vivarium facilities, offering AAALAC-accredited rental space in the Southern California, San Francisco, and Boston-Cambridge biohubs, with a planned expansion in Seattle in 2022. Explora BioLabs had annual revenue of approximately $38 million in 2021, with strong, double-digit revenue growth expected over the next five years.
 
The acquisition complements and expands the Charles River Accelerator and Development Lab (CRADL) operation that provides AAALAC-accredited, full-service vivarium rental space supported by Charles River’s technical, vivarium, and veterinary expertise for emerging and established biopharmaceutical companies and academic research institutions in key biohubs. The company’s outsourced vivarium services allow clients to quickly start and focus on their early-stage research in a flexible manner within high-quality, biosecure facilities with reduced research risk through access to Charles River’s expertise in veterinary care.
 
The combined Explora BioLabs and CRADL operation is expected to include at least 25 vivarium facilities by the end of 2022, providing over 300,000 square feet of rental capacity in key biohubs, including expansions in the U.S. and internationally. In addition, clients will have access to other Charles River services, including its discovery and non-clinical development, which aims to provide opportunities to enhance the speed and efficiency of research programs and facilitate the progression towards an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing.
 
James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories, said, “With its presence in West Coast biohubs, the acquisition of Explora BioLabs complements our existing CRADL™ footprint and offers incremental opportunities to partner with an emerging, high-growth client base, many of which are engaged in cell and gene therapy development.”