Ascend Acquires Beacon Gene Therapy Manufacturing Site

The acquisition initiates a long-term agreement with Beacon Therapeutics, highlighted by clinical and commercial AAV production. Beacon Therapeutics acquired UF startup AGTC in November 2022.

Ascend Advanced Therapies, a gene therapy development partner, has purchased Beacon Therapeutics’ contract, manufacturing, and controls team—along with the company’s site, previously owned by UF Innovate | Accelerate graduate AGTC, located in Alachua, FL—a town considered to be a “biotech hub” in the state. The acquisition introduces a good manufacturing practice (GMP) plant into the fold, along with process and analytical development capabilities.

Per the deal, Ascend also has a long-term agreement with Beacon which includes the production of its products for both clinical and commercial use, which allows for the ophthalmic gene therapy company to prioritize clinical development.

“Ascend was founded with a unique science and technology-driven strategy. As we continue building the most flexible adeno-associated virus (AAV) platform across serotypes on the market, we also understand the critical value of our highly experienced employees,” said Mike Stella, Ascend’s CEO. “This acquisition allows us to now support customers from research through to commercialization and adds to one of the most experienced gene therapy teams in the market. Every day we are working together to grow the company with a long-term mindset of quality first to appropriately balance quality and yield for the life of each product.”

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