YMC acquires ChromaCon AG to accelerate continuous chromatography innovation
Zurich, Switzerland / Kyoto, Japan – April 9, 2019 – YMC Co., Ltd. (“YMC”), a global supplier of separation resins, services and systems for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical markets, has acquired 100% of the shares in ChromaCon AG, a Zurich-based leader in continuous chromatography technologies.
The transfer of shares was completed on April 1, 2019. With this acquisition, YMC significantly strengthens its position in continuous chromatography, twin-column purification, and scale-up from laboratory to GMP production, offering customers an integrated portfolio from process development to commercial manufacturing.
Strategic rationale for the YMC–ChromaCon acquisition
ChromaCon AG, founded as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, is a life science tools company focused on best-in-class continuous chromatography solutions. The company is recognized for its laboratory-scale purification systems based on proprietary process technologies, process simulation and operating software.
ChromaCon pioneered twin-column purification, enabling:
- Significantly higher productivity for large and small molecule manufacturing
- Improved process economics through reduced operational costs (OPEX)
- Scalable solutions from lab development to large-scale purification
YMC and ChromaCon have already been cooperating in Japan and India on the marketing and sale of ChromaCon’s laboratory-scale systems. In addition, ChromaCon has licensed proprietary continuous chromatography technologies to YMC Process Technologies (“YPT” is now YMC America) for use in GMP production-scale equipment.
YMC completed its acquisition of YPT from LEWA-Nikkiso America in December 2018. YPT develops and manufactures pilot and production-scale separation systems for the (bio-)pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The addition of ChromaCon now creates a unified offering that spans from R&D lab systems to fully integrated GMP-scale production platforms.
Benefits for customers in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical manufacturing
The combination of YMC, YMC Process Technologies and ChromaCon brings together complementary strengths in HPLC, LPLC, batch and continuous purification technologies, software and system design. Customers benefit from:
- Seamless technology transfer from lab-scale process development to pilot and GMP-scale manufacturing
- Higher productivity through twin-column and continuous chromatography technologies
- Lower cost of ownership via CAPEX and OPEX savings enabled by optimized process design
- Global support from YMC’s network of affiliates across Asia, Europe and the Americas
- Integrated hardware, software and process expertise for robust scale-up and implementation
Leadership comment on the acquisition
Michael Bavand, CEO of ChromaCon, commented:
“We have been working productively with YPT (YMC America) in development, launch and co-marketing of continuous chromatography pilot/production systems during the past three years achieving a market pole position in industrial implementation of our technology with key customers. We are looking forward to intensifying our interactions being part of the YMC Group of Companies. The acquisition of ChromaCon will benefit our customers ensuring a seamless transfer of our business relationship, technologies and products to YMC.”
Potential questions and answers around the transaction are available on request. Further information can be obtained from both ChromaCon and YMC.
About ChromaCon AG
ChromaCon AG is a life science tools company located in Zurich, Switzerland, providing best-in-class chromatography process solutions to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry. The company has developed and patented novel process principles, process control and simulation software, equipment designs and operating software for batch, cyclic and continuous chromatography.
These process solutions deliver significant CAPEX and OPEX savings while enabling scalable chromatographic solutions for large-scale purification applications. ChromaCon’s Contichrom® laboratory-scale equipment is co-marketed worldwide by ChromaCon and its partners. ChromaCon has provided global licenses for its process technologies to YMC Process Technologies for implementation into scale-up systems.
ChromaCon Contact
Dr. Thomas Müller-Späth, CEO
www.chromacon.com
About YMC Co., Ltd.
YMC Co., Ltd. is a private life science company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1980, YMC operates more than nine affiliates and facilities across Asia, Europe and the Americas. With over 500 employees, YMC provides best-in-class laboratory and process solutions to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.
YMC focuses on innovation, production and sales of packing materials, packed columns and systems for High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Low Pressure Liquid Chromatography (LPLC), as well as custom purification and custom synthesis. YMC also operates a CMO facility and pilot plant incorporating state-of-the-art simulated moving bed (SMB) purification and is engaged in the production and sales of micro-reactor systems.
YMC’s intellectual property, built over decades of chromatography and purification expertise, supports the development and commercialization of both small and large molecule therapies worldwide.
YMC Contact
https://www.ymc.co.jp/