Evonik acquires Transferra Nanosciences Inc.

• Acquisition is a systematic step in the ongoing implementation of the growth plan in the Health Care Business Line
• Expands portfolio with liposomal formulation technologies for parenteral drugs
• Evonik is evolving into a leading service provider for drug delivery Systems

Essen. Evonik and Transferra Nanosciences, Inc., formerly known as Northern Lipids Inc., have signed an asset purchase agreement on June 21st, 2016 to acquire the business and assets of Transferra Nanosciences Inc., a biotechnology company based in Burnaby close to Vancouver (Canada). Both parties have agreed to not disclose the purchase price. The transaction is scheduled to close at the end of July 2016.

Transferra is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) that provides services as well as products to biotechnology companies engaged in the development of pharmaceutical products, using the company’s unique expertise in liposomal drug delivery systems. The acquisition allows Evonik to further expand the portfolio of its Business Line Heath Care in the area of parenteral drug delivery technologies and services.

“This transaction reflects our continued commitment to growth in the health care area and in the drug delivery space in particular,” says Dr. Reiner Beste, chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH.

Transferra services include prototype identification, scale-up and process development, analytical support and qualification of methods, production of test articles for toxicology studies and cGMP manufacturing of clinical trial materials. In addition Transferra offers a range of benchtop LIPEX® extruders, as well as custom-built LIPEX® extruders for large scale manufacture of commercial drug products.

Evonik Health Care has recently developed into a leading provider of formulation development and GMP manufacturing services to the Pharmaceutical Industries for advanced parenteral drug depot formulations, building on the acquisition of the RESOMER® portfolio of bioresorbable polymers and Surmodics Pharmaceuticals in Birmingham (Alabama, USA).

“Transferra is delighted to become a part of the Evonik group and is looking forward to bringing together two complementary sets of assets and capabilities in advanced parenteral technologies. The combined expertise in biopolymer microparticles and liposomal nanoparticles will significantly contribute to the development of innovative medicines”, said Don M. Enns, President and CEO of Transferra.

“The combination of the drug delivery businesses of Transferra and Evonik will form a leading service provider providing a full array of services, ranging from prototype identification to commercial manufacturing”, says Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, head of the Health Care Business Line at Evonik. “We can now support our customers in the most important areas of complex injectable drug formulation technologies to the benefit of our customers and the patients alike”, Herbeaux added.





Company information
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals, operating in the Nutrition & Care, Resource Efficiency and Performance Materials segments. The company benefits from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. In 2015 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around €13.5 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.47 billion.

About Nutrition & Care
The Nutrition & Care segment is led by Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH and contributes to fulfilling basic human needs. That includes applications for everyday consumer goods as well as animal nutrition and health care. This segment employed about 7,000 employees, and generated sales of around
€4.9 billion in 2015.
 
About Transferra
Transferra Nanosciences Inc., a life sciences Company based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada provides Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies globally. It specializes in both the development and manufacture of complex drug delivery systems using lipid nanoparticle science and has been in operations since 1991.

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.