Ares Life Sciences to acquire US-based Antigen Laboratories
Continuation of its focus on the US allergy immunotherapy (AIT) market
Ares Life Sciences, a Swiss healthcare-focused investment group, has agreed to acquire Planet Biopharmaceuticals, including its subsidiary Antigen Laboratories, a producer of allergen extracts, for an undisclosed sum.
Ares recently agreed to buy Greer Laboratories, a leader in the US allergy immunotherapy (AIT) market.
The firm says the purchase of Antigen Laboratories is a continuation of its strategic focus on this market in the US.
Ares is also the majority shareholder in France-based Stallergenes, a pioneer in immunotherapy treatments by sublingual administration.
Jacques Theurillat, CEO of Ares Life Sciences, said Antigen has ‘one of the most comprehensive offerings of allergenic extracts in the US’ and a track record of serving the needs of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists.
‘We view the acquisition of Antigen as very complementary to our other investments in the allergy market,’ he said.
Theron Odlaug, Planet Biopharmaceuticals’ Executive Chairman and CEO, added: ‘We are looking forward to becoming a member of the Ares portfolio of life science companies and the resources they will provide to help us continue to grow.’
It is estimated that 10–30% of the global population suffers from allergic rhinitis. In the US, more than 40 million Americans suffer from allergic diseases, with approximately 50% allergic to grass pollen. The current standard of care in allergy immunotherapy involves multiple injections of allergens, which are prepared from bulk extract material. These injections are performed in a supervised medical setting. Currently, 2 to 3 million Americans in the US are treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy annually.
