Ascend Advanced Therapies, a gene-to-GMP Development partner, has entered into a merger agreement with EW Healthcare Partners (EW) to expand its footprint and capabilities in the US and to continue investing further in infrastructure. As part of the agreement, Advanced BioScience Laboratories (ABL), a biotherapy, oncolytic and viral vector CDMO and portfolio company of EW, will become part of Ascend.

EW will also make a significant capital investment into Ascend to support continued growth of the company. The partnership will leverage ABL’s experience in development and manufacturing with additional virus modalities and GMP capacity for adeno-associated virus (AAV) production. The merger also expands the companies’ fill/finish capacity in the USA and is intended to create a scalable CDMO that will serve as a global platform for the manufacturing of advanced therapies.