Gemini Bioproducts Acquires ORFLO to Expand Footprint in Cell Therapy Market

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media that on November 11, 2019, local time, Gemini Bioproducts, a portfolio company of BelHealth Investment Partners, announced the acquisition of ORFLO, a provider of life science instruments. Specific financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

ORFLO, founded by Dr. Ted Ayliffe in 2003, is a life sciences company dedicated to the research, development, and manufacturing of cell analysis instruments. Since its inception, ORFLO has been developing and marketing powerful yet user-friendly instruments for the cell and protein analysis industry. The core component of ORFLO’s instruments is the patented µFlow cassette. By simultaneously measuring fluorescence and cell volume, ORFLO’s instruments provide healthcare professionals with an intuitive cell analysis window that enables simultaneous visualization of changes in both cell count and volume.

ORFLO’s instruments also feature industry-leading ease of use and affordability, while eliminating all maintenance costs associated with fluidic technologies. These advantages significantly enhance the speed at which healthcare professionals can test for and detect patients’ conditions.

Currently, ORFLO’s first product has been licensed to a third party and was launched in 2010 as the first-in-class handheld cell counter. ORFLO aims to extend its disposable cell counting technology to flow cytometry and multiplex bead-based cell and protein research. At present, ORFLO has two flagship products: the Moxi Z cell counter and the Moxi Go benchtop flow cytometer.

Dale Gordon, CEO of Gemini Bioproducts, stated, “ORFLO’s technology and products are a strong complement to Gemini Bioproducts. The Moxi Go and Moxi Z products will significantly expand our market presence in cell and gene therapy, enabling customers to gain real-time insights into patient cell status and delivering revolutionary treatments to patients. We are committed to becoming a world-class provider of cell processing and monitoring solutions. The acquisition of ORFLO demonstrates our strength, and we aim to increase R&D resources and leverage our excellent customer support team to advance the development of ORFLO instruments.”

Ted Ayliffe, founder of ORFLO, stated, “We are delighted to join the Gemini team. Over the past two decades, our proprietary technology has evolved. We are thrilled to collaborate with Gemini to further advance this technology, develop novel cell analysis techniques, and produce next-generation cell analysis instruments. Gemini will help us fully realize our commercial potential.”

Harold Blue, a partner at BelHealth and board member of Gemini Bioproducts, added, “Gemini’s acquisition of ORFLO strengthens BelHealth’s cell culture solutions platform. The addition of ORFLO expands the company’s scale and injects new vitality into its operations. We aim for the combined portfolio to solidify our market position and deliver comprehensive services to the rapidly growing cell therapy industry.”

Gemini Bioproducts, founded in 1985 and headquartered in West Sacramento, California, USA, is a leading provider of cell culture solutions for the scientific community, spanning the fields of cell and gene therapy, biotechnology, and academic research. Gemini Bioproducts also offers contract manufacturing and regulatory consulting services to its partners. The company’s sales force and international distribution network serve the global cell culture science community.

BelHealth Investment Partners (BIP) is a private equity firm founded in 2011 and headquartered in New York, USA. The company primarily invests in three core healthcare sectors: services, products, and distribution. BelHealth’s current investment capital stands at $350 million.

(Compiled by Wang Fang)