Arranta Bio Secures $82 Million in New Funding to Advance Innovative Microbiome Therapies

On October 30, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that Arranta Bio announced the completion of an $82 million new round of financing, which was jointly initiated by Ampersand Capital Partners, founders of Arranta Bio, and employees. In addition, Arranta Bio established a strategic partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Founded in May 2019, Arranta is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). Arranta is dedicated to innovative therapies for human microbiome-related diseases and provides contract development and manufacturing services to innovative companies in this field. By establishing facilities specifically designed for process development and cGMP clinical supply, and by advancing their commercialization, Arranta aims to realize its vision of becoming a world-class microbiome CDMO.

The number of microbial genes constituting an individual’s microbiome is 200 times that of the human genome. Currently, approximately 200 companies are dedicated to researching the links between the human microbiome and fields such as infectious diseases and oncology to identify therapeutic targets. Arranta Bio is establishing a CDMO to support innovators in this frontier medical field. Currently, Arranta Bio is building a facility in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA, with capabilities for late-stage clinical and commercial production, which is scheduled to become operational in mid-2020.

Mark Bamforth, Founder and CEO of Arranta Bio, stated, “The microbiome is an expanding field within clinical development, where breakthrough advancements will impact therapies for many serious diseases. Arranta Bio is committed to providing reliable, high-quality clinical technologies to pioneering companies in this sector, ultimately bringing these technologies to the commercial market.”

Through a strategic partnership with Thermo Fisher Scientific, Arranta Bio will gain access to the company’s full suite of products and services, while also providing Thermo Fisher Scientific with production materials for gene therapies.

Michel Lagarde, Executive Vice President of Thermo Fisher Scientific, stated, “We are pleased to partner with Arranta Bio to support the clinical development of customers’ novel biopharmaceuticals, thereby improving patient health outcomes.”

Ampersand, founded in 1988, is a middle-market private equity firm with offices in Boston, United States, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The company focuses on growth-oriented investments in the healthcare and industrial sectors, leveraging both private equity and operational expertise to create value and enhance performance alongside its portfolio companies. Ampersand has helped numerous companies establish leading positions in the healthcare sector, including Avista Pharma Solutions, Brammer Bio, Genewiz, and Genoptix.

Founded in 1956, Thermo Fisher Scientific is a global leader in serving science, providing services to biopharmaceutical companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic laboratories, universities, and research institutions. The company generates over $24 billion in revenue and employs approximately 70,000 people worldwide. Its major brands include Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, and Unity Lab Services.

(Compiled by Jiang Ying)