Novartis aims to strengthen cell therapy capabilities with CellforCure acquisition

Novartis has announced plans to acquire CellforCure, a French contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), from LFB for an undisclosed amount. The deal underscores the Swiss pharmaceutical giant’s ambition to solidify its leadership in the cell and gene therapy market.

Strategic acquisition of a key player

The acquisition includes CellforCure’s manufacturing facility in Les Ulis near Paris and adjacent land. If approved, the deal will make CellforCure a wholly owned Novartis site, integrating it into Novartis’ expanding global network of cell and gene therapy facilities. This network already includes operations in Morris Plains, New Jersey, and a new facility under construction in Stein, Switzerland.

Steffen Lang, Global Head of Technical Operations at Novartis, remarked that this acquisition would expand manufacturing capacity for the company’s flagship CAR-T cell therapy, Kymriah, as well as other pipeline therapies. He highlighted that this move aligns with Novartis’ commitment to making advanced therapies accessible to patients worldwide.

Building on an existing partnership

Novartis and CellforCure have an existing collaboration, formalised in July, to produce CAR-T cell therapies, including Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel). Kymriah has gained approval in multiple markets, including the US, EU, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia, for treating difficult-to-treat cancers. Novartis has completed technology transfer with CellforCure and expects clinical supply production for Kymriah to commence by mid-2019.

Expansion in global cell therapy capabilities

The proposed acquisition complements Novartis’ recent strategic moves to enhance cell and gene manufacturing capabilities worldwide. The company has entered into a partnership with Cellular Biomedicine Group (CBMG) for Kymriah manufacturing in China and expanded collaborations with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute and other global players, including a contract manufacturing agreement in Japan.

Lang emphasised that the acquisition of CellforCure would not only increase production capacity for Kymriah but also support other therapies in the Novartis pipeline.

Regulatory and operational hurdles

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2019, subject to employee consultations and regulatory approvals. If successful, this move will further solidify Novartis’ leadership in the advanced therapies sector.