CEM Acquires Intavis Instrumentation Line to Strengthen Peptide Synthesis Portfolio

VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that on October 30, 2019, U.S. biotechnology company CEM announced the acquisition of Intavis’s instrument production line. No financial terms of the transaction were disclosed.

This acquisition enables CEM to strengthen its product offerings in automated proteomics and automated in situ hybridization (ISH) within the life sciences sector, particularly in the field of peptide synthesis.

Intavis, founded in December 2000 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, is a developer of biotechnology and instrumentation. It has become a leading company in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of systems that automate complex processes in biochemistry and molecular biology. The company is dedicated to the development of technologies and instruments for biochemical research as well as for the synthesis and analysis of biomolecules. It has developed multiple peptide synthesizers (MultiPep RSi, ResPep SLi, MultiPep CF, ResPep CF) and other instruments (InsituPro VSi, BioLane HTI 16Vx), earning a high reputation worldwide.

Intavis offers unique robotic synthesis technologies that effectively support CEM’s microwave peptide synthesis lines. This technology includes small-scale, highly parallel formats for producing peptides on resins or membranes, enabling direct screening. In contrast, CEM’s peptide synthesis technology provides very rapid and efficient large-scale peptide production. Through this acquisition, customers will benefit from a comprehensive portfolio of peptide synthesis technologies supported by CEM’s extensive global support network.

Intavis’s original automated peptide synthesis line consists of the MultiPep RSI, MultiPep CF, ResPep SLi, and Slide Spotting Robot instruments. Among these, the MultiPep RSI, MultiPep CF, and ResPep SLi are fully automated parallel peptide synthesizers. The interchangeable modules in these instruments cover synthesis scales for the parallel screening of hundreds of peptides, enabling the production of specialized peptides in small columns or plates, as well as large-scale synthesis of 300 mg or more of peptide in column modules equipped with stirring and heating options.

It is reported that during the transition period (expected to last four months), Intavis will continue to sell and support its products. Following this period, CEM will commence manufacturing Intavis instruments at its headquarters in Matthews, North Carolina. Additionally, CEM will assume responsibility for sales, support, and service for all existing Intavis customers through its global support network.

Regarding this acquisition, Michael J. Collins, President and CEO of CEM, stated: “We are delighted to acquire the Intavis line of instruments and its unique robotic technology. Strategically, it will expand CEM’s capabilities from early lead identification through preclinical stages to cGMP commercialization. Intavis will fully support the development of peptide-based therapies. Furthermore, this technology creates new opportunities for CEM in bioscience sample preparation.”

Dr. Steffen Huettner, CEO of Intavis, commented: “We are proud to partner with CEM. This agreement holds great promise for the future of Intavis technology and enables our company to focus on new developments.”

CEM (CEM Corporation) is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 1978, headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, USA. CEM has overseas subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan, and maintains a global network of more than 50 third-party distributors. The company was founded by its current Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael J. Collins. For over 40 years, CEM Corporation has designed and developed laboratory instruments and scientific methodologies (both microwave and non-microwave technologies), which are used by major corporations, renowned research institutions, and universities worldwide.

(Compiled by Wang Fang)