Merck expands Protein A capabilities through acquisition of JSR’s Life Sciences chromatography business
Multinational science and technology company Merck (Darmstadt, Germany) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the chromatography business of JSR Life Science (Leuven, Belgium), strengthening its downstream processing capabilities with advanced Protein A chromatography technologies.
In a strategic acquisition to enhance its downstream processing portfolio with advanced Protein A chromatography capabilities, supporting more efficient and scalable production of biopharmaceutical therapies including monoclonal antibodies, Merck is set to acquire JSR Life Science’s chromatography business. Based in Belgium, the chromatography business of JSR Life Science is a leader in contract development and manufacturing, preclinical and translational clinical research, and bioprocessing solutions. The company supplies chromatography solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers worldwide, and is known for its high-performing Amsphere™ A3 and Amsphere™ A+ Protein A resins, which offer superior purification performance and process robustness for a wide range of monoclonal antibodies.
Protein A chromatography plays a critical role in the purification of monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic proteins, which 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. Ultimately, that means helping patients gain faster access to critical therapies.
“This acquisition will strengthen our position in the bioprocessing market and underscores our commitment to long-term investment in monoclonal antibody production technologies,” explained Sebastián Arana, Head of Process Solutions, Life Science business of Merck. “By combining JSR’s Protein A expertise with our portfolio, we can further enable customers to advance the speed, efficiency and reliability of antibody therapy production.”
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Tim Lowery, President of JSR Life Sciences, commented:
“This acquisition positions our innovative Amsphere™ Protein A technologies for even greater global impact under Merck’s renowned platform—enabling more customers worldwide to accelerate therapies to market with enhanced speed and confidence,”
