Merck signed a definitive agreement to acquire the chromatography business of JSR Life Sciences. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
The chromatography business of JSR Life Sciences has more than 50 employees located in Belgium and supplies chromatography solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers worldwide. The company is known for its high-performing Amsphere™ A3 and Amsphere™ A+ Protein A resins. Protein A affinity chromatography resins are ndeveloped for the purification of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) during biopharmaceutical manufacturing They offer superior purification performance and process robustness for a wide range of monoclonal antibodies.
Protein A ligands in these resins selectively bind to the Fc region of antibodies, enabling highly specific separation of target antibodies from other cellular components, while their optimized base matrices enhance binding capacity, chemical stability, and process robustness, resulting in more efficient and reliable downstream purification. Monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins are used for treating cancers, autoimmune diseases, and infectious conditions. This specialized purification process is key to achieving high purity and enhanced drug safety, while also improving manufacturing speed and reliability.
Merck offers a comprehensive portfolio of downstream solutions, including industry-leading filtration technologies, chromatography resins, buffers and chemicals, hardware and systems, integrated technologies, and validation services. These capabilities support customers in optimizing drug development and manufacturing processes with greater speed, safety, and reliability.
According to the Merck, the acquisition will expand its downstream processing portfolio with advanced Protein A chromatography capabilities, supporting more efficient and scalable production of biopharmaceutical therapies, including monoclonal antibodies.
- JSR Life Sciences, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
- Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
