Fujifilm Completes $890 Million Acquisition of Biogen’s Hillerød Biologics Manufacturing Site to Expand CDMO Capabilities

On August 5, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that Fujifilm had announced the completion of its acquisition of Biogen (Denmark) Manufacturing ApS, a large-scale biologics production facility located in Hillerød, near Copenhagen, Denmark. Fujifilm invested approximately $890 million in cash for this transaction.

Upon completion of this transaction, the Hillerød manufacturing site will become the fourth biopharmaceutical production facility for FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of Fujifilm and a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMO”) with expertise in the research, development, and manufacturing of biologics and advanced therapies. Once all regulatory procedures are completed, Hillerød Manufacturing will be renamed FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Denmark ApS.

The Hillerød campus, comprising six 15,000-L bioreactors, will produce cell culture-derived biologics for clinical and commercial use. The site employs nearly 800 people and features assembly, labeling, and packaging facilities, quality control laboratories, and warehouses. Biogen products manufactured at this facility will continue to be supplied by Hillerød Manufacturing under the Fujifilm name.

“Fujifilm’s culture of innovation and its outstanding manufacturing reputation deliver unique value to the biological CDMO industry,” said Takatoshi Ishikawa, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Fujifilm’s Biological CDMO Division. “By combining the resources of Biogen (Denmark) Manufacturing ApS and Fujifilm, we will continue to drive further advancement in the pharmaceutical industry by meeting the diverse needs of our customers.”

“I am delighted to welcome the Biogen (Denmark) Manufacturing ApS team into the FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies family,” said Steve Bagshaw, CEO of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. “For us, this is more than just an acquisition; we are bringing new value to society by developing new technologies, products, and services, thereby steadily fulfilling Fujifilm’s mission.”

This acquisition underscores Fujifilm’s clear strategic focus on not only significantly expanding production capacity but also supporting preclinical projects, enabling the delivery of volumes ranging from very small to very large scales through the commercialization of top-tier assets. Leveraging its comprehensive CDMO services, expertise in process development, manufacturing, and sterile fill-finish, as well as its capabilities across a diverse portfolio of biologics—including recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, viral vaccines, and gene therapies—Fujifilm will continue to expand its business. Sales in Fujifilm’s biological CDMO business are projected to exceed JPY 100 billion by March 2022.

*The biological CDMO business provides not only biopharmaceuticals but also small-molecule drugs.

Fujifilm is one of the primary operating companies of Fujifilm Holdings Corporation. Leveraging the depth of knowledge and foundational technologies developed through its relentless pursuit of innovation, the company provides cutting-edge solutions to a wide range of global industries. Its proprietary core technologies contribute to various fields, including healthcare, graphic systems, high-performance materials, optical devices, digital imaging, and document products. These products and services are built upon its extensive portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic, and imaging technologies. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, the company reported global revenue of $22 billion, based on an exchange rate of ¥111 to $1.

Fujifilm FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is an industry-leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for biologics, with facilities in Billingham and Redcar, UK; Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina; Texas, USA; and Hillerød, Denmark. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is dedicated to providing customers with R&D and manufacturing support for recombinant proteins, viral vaccines, and gene therapies. The company possesses extensive experience in viral vectors, including process development, scale-up, and cGMP manufacturing for adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), lentivirus, poxvirus, and baculovirus. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies also offers a comprehensive suite of cell system development services, leveraging its proprietary pAVEway™ microbial and Apollo™ cell line systems for process development, analytical development, clinical production, and FDA-approved commercial manufacturing.

Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB), founded in 1978, is the world’s oldest independent biotechnology company. The company is dedicated to discovering and delivering innovative therapies for patients worldwide, focusing on neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia, and autoimmune disorders. With a rich scientific heritage and a steadfast commitment to pioneering new advances, Biogen recognizes that cutting-edge science and medicines can address unmet patient needs and alter the course of debilitating diseases. Biogen employs approximately 4,800 people worldwide and operates as a truly global organization. Headquartered in Weston, Massachusetts, the company maintains world-class manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and has offices in Canada, Australia, Japan, and across Europe.

CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) is an emerging outsourced R&D and manufacturing entity that primarily provides customized development and manufacturing services to multinational pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology firms. These services encompass process development and preparation, process optimization, scale-up production, registration and validation batch production, and commercial manufacturing, with a particular focus on innovative drugs. CDMOs deeply integrate with clients’ entire supply chain systems—including R&D, procurement, and production—across all stages from preclinical research and clinical trials to commercial manufacturing. By providing innovative process development and large-scale manufacturing capabilities, CDMOs replace simple capacity output with higher-value-added technological expertise.

(Compiled by Tian Shuhang)