HAS Healthcare Advanced Synthesis acquires Cerbios Pharma

HAS Healthcare Advanced Synthesis has acquired Cerbios-Pharma, subject to regulatory approval. As a result, investment frm 65 Equity Partners, which owns Helsinn, will acquire about 40% of Cerbios. The Braglia family will retain a majority stake and the existing management will stay in place.

Both companies are based in the Swiss canton on Ticino, headquartered at Biasca and Lugano respectively, and are actively globally. Cerbios has another site at Couvet. They have a combined workforce of over 400.

“The combination … creates a highly complementary and integrated leader in the CDMO industry” it was stated. “Together, the two companies bring extensive production, chemical and biological expertise, technical excellence, and a broader range of services to meet the evolving needs of the global pharmaceutical industry.” 

Opportunities are seen in rising demand for complex therapies and continued innovation in drug development across oncology, neurology, endocrinology, dermatology, rare diseases, gastrointestinal and other therapeutic areas. 

Helsinn is active in APIs, HPAPIs and anti-cancer compounds, at hundreds of grams to tens of kilos scale. Cerbios, meanwhile, makes both chemical and biological APIs, including HPAPIs and is also strong in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). 

In February, Cerbios opened a new expansion area at Lugano for HPAPIs, including cytotoxic linker payloads for ADCs. It is equipped with isolator containment technology for highly potent molecules down to an OEL <10 ng/m3, expanding capacity for advanced purification technologies like high- and -ow pressure chromatography, nanofiltration and freeze-drying.