DPx Holdings B.V., owned by JLL Partners and Royal DSM, has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, LLC, a contract manufacturer specializing in biologics. DPx is the parent company of Patheon, DSM Fine Chemicals and Banner Life Sciences. Following the transaction, Patheon’s biologic drug substance business will have four facilities in Europe, Australia and North America, with 550 employees globally. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in 4Q14.

Patheon provides commercial manufacturing and pharmaceutical product development services for solid and sterile dosage forms, and biologic and chemical drug substance development and manufacturing. Gallus broadens Patheon’s process development capabilities as well as clinical and commercial scale manufacturing of mammalian cell culture derived products.
 
With Gallus’ two sites in St. Louis, MO and Princeton, NJ, Patheon will have its first biologic drug substance sites in the U.S., in addition to its sites in Groningen, the Netherlands and Brisbane, Australia. Patheon will be able to leverage its expertise in disposable technology as well as expand its capabilities in mid-scale flexible manufacturing.
 
“We are pleased to expand our biologics business with the acquisition of Gallus BioPharmaceuticals,” said Jim Mullen, chief executive officer of DPx Holdings. “This transaction is in line with our strategy. We can now further support the needs of our customers with biologics projects by providing flexibility, leading technology solutions, commercial operations and an expanded footprint with two U.S. sites.”
 
“This is an exciting time as we join a world-class company and expand our offerings as one global team specializing in biologics,” says Mark R. Bamforth, president and chief executive officer, Gallus BioPharmaceuticals. “We have built deep commercial and clinical manufacturing and process development capabilities that are highly complementary to Patheon’s biologics organization. We look forward to the ongoing success and growth by combining our knowledge, skills, technical expertise and capabilities to serve customers’ product needs.”