Fujifilm To Buy Cell Therapy Plant From Atara For $100M
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, will acquire a cell therapy plant from Atara Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: ATRA) for 0 million.
According to the company, the 90,000-square-foot facility in Thousand Oaks, California, is "readily expandable" and has the flexibility to produce clinical and commercial treatments, including allogenic T-cell and CAR-T immunotherapies.
As part of the deal, Fujifilm Diosynth, will begin a long-term manufacturing agreement to help produce treatments in Atara's clinical pipeline, including tabelecleucel for Epstein-Barr virus-positive lymphoproliferative disease following a transplant.
Also See: Atara Bio Unveils Pivotal Data On T Cell Therapy Tabelecleucel In Transplant Patients.
Fujifilm said it plans to offer positions to the plant's current 140 employees. "The collective expertise of the team will further support our efforts as a world-class CDMO," Fujifilm Diosynth CEO Martin Meeson said in a statement.
The agreement is expected to reduce Atara's planned operating expenses.
Upon closing, the upfront consideration, along with the reduction in operating expenses, in addition to Atara's existing cash balance, is expected to fund Atara's planned operations into Q4 2023.
Price Action: ATRA shares are up 4.92% at $16.00 during the premarket session on the last check Thursday.
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