AVS Bio, a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners, has acquired Biorbyt, a Cambridge, UK-based supplier of research antibodies, proteins, and other biomaterials. The acquisition expands AVS Bio’s product catalog and international distribution capabilities while adding an established e-commerce platform serving pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology businesses, and academic institutions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Norwich, Connecticut, AVS Bio supplies biological materials and specialized services supporting the development and manufacture of vaccines, therapeutics, and other biologic medicines.
The acquisition represents another step in the company’s strategy of building a diversified biomaterials platform capable of supporting customers throughout the research and development process.
Founded in 2011, Biorbyt has developed an extensive portfolio of more than one million stock-keeping units, encompassing primary and secondary antibodies, recombinant and native proteins, ELISA kits, small molecules, and molecular biology reagents.
The company also provides specialized services, including custom antibody development, peptide synthesis, and protein expression.
Its product portfolio supports scientists and research organizations investigating biological processes, developing medicines, and conducting laboratory experiments.
Biorbyt distributes its products internationally through an established digital commerce platform designed to help researchers identify and purchase specialized biological materials.
By incorporating this technology, AVS Bio will expand its ability to reach customers across additional geographic markets and provide a broader selection of products through a unified distribution channel.
Biorbyt will continue operating under its existing leadership following the acquisition, becoming part of the broader AVS Bio platform.
Its co-founders, Dr. Tillmann Ziegert and Qun Yang, will continue supporting the business as AVS Bio integrates its product offerings and commercial capabilities.
The acquisition brings together two businesses with complementary portfolios.
AVS Bio’s existing operations include the supply of specific pathogen-free eggs, cell products, antibodies, proteins, and organoid growth factors.
The company also provides antibody discovery, diagnostic testing, and Good Manufacturing Practice support services.
These products and services are used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies involved in the development and manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and biologic medicines.
Adding Biorbyt’s extensive research reagent portfolio will allow AVS Bio to serve more customers earlier in the scientific research process while expanding its offerings to existing biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers.
The transaction also strengthens AVS Bio’s digital distribution infrastructure through Biorbyt’s e-commerce technology and data-driven commercial tools.
AVS Bio currently operates more than 20 facilities across North America and Europe, providing specialized biological materials and services to customers worldwide.
Its expansion reflects Arlington Capital Partners’ strategy of building larger businesses in markets characterized by specialized technical capabilities, regulatory requirements, and long-term customer relationships.
Arlington invests across aerospace and defense, government services and technology, and healthcare.
Within healthcare, the firm has built a portfolio of businesses supporting pharmaceutical development, clinical research, manufacturing, and medical technology.
Other healthcare investments include Afton Scientific, Everest Clinical Research, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, Cordica Medical, Millstone Medical Outsourcing, and Riverpoint Medical.
Founded in 1999, Arlington has invested in more than 200 companies and raised over $14 billion in committed capital. The firm is currently investing through its $6 billion Fund VII.
For AVS Bio, the acquisition broadens both its scientific product portfolio and its ability to distribute those products through digital channels.
The combined business intends to offer researchers a wider selection of complementary reagents and biomaterials while expanding its presence across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic markets.
KEY QUOTES:
“With the treatment and prevention of disease becoming ever more advanced, personalized, and urgent, sophisticated biomaterials capabilities play a crucial role in their delivery. Biorbyt – with its expansive portfolio of antibodies, proteins, and reagents, and advanced ecommerce platform – marks an important step in our journey to becoming a truly diversified, leading and global biomaterials provider and will allow us to reach more customers in more geographies than ever before. We’re thrilled to welcome the Biorbyt team to the AVS Bio platform.”
Jac Price, CEO of AVS Bio
“Since our initial investment, our vision alongside AVS Bio’s leadership team has been to build it into a scaled life sciences platform with the breadth and capabilities to support customers across the research and development lifecycle. Biorbyt is highly complementary to AVS Bio’s capabilities and will materially broaden its product offering while adding digital commerce capabilities and the deep scientific and commercial expertise of Biorbyt’s exceptional leadership team. The acquisition represents another important step in building this differentiated platform at the forefront of life science innovation.”
Malcolm Little, Partner at Arlington Capital Partners
“We are very excited to join the growing AVS Bio family. Our combined catalog, along with our ecommerce platform and data-driven commercial tools, creates a powerful engine to serve researchers around the world and bring an even broader portfolio of high-quality biomaterials to our joint global customer base.”
Dr. Tillmann Ziegert and Qun Yang, Co-Founders of Biorbyt
