Repligen to Acquire BioLife Solutions for $1.5 Billion to Expand Cell Therapy Portfolio

Repligen Corp. announced on Wednesday it has agreed to acquire BioLife Solutions in a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition is a strategic move to expand the drugmaking equipment provider's footprint in the high-growth cell and gene therapy sector.

Deal Structure and Financials

Under the terms of the agreement, BioLife Solutions shareholders will receive $11.25 in cash and 0.1442 shares of Repligen for each BioLife share they own. The offer values BioLife at $31 per share, representing a 6.2% premium over the company's last closing price, according to a report by Reuters.

The boards of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Repligen stated the acquisition is expected to be accretive to its earnings and generate at least $20 million in cost savings within the first year through operational efficiencies.

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Strategic Rationale

The deal provides Repligen with access to BioLife's critical technologies for preserving cells during manufacturing and transport, along with its portfolio of cell-processing tools and high-margin consumables. The strategic importance of BioLife's market position was highlighted by William Blair analyst Matt Larew, who noted its products are used in approximately 90% of all commercially approved cell therapies.

This acquisition comes amid growing investor interest in the bioprocessing and drug development tools space. It follows a recent signal from industry peer Danaher of a recovery in demand for bioprocessing equipment and consumables. It also comes a month after Merck KGaA's reported $11.3 billion deal to buy Bio-Techne, underscoring a trend of consolidation in the sector.