AstraZeneca to acquire Belgian cell therapy biotech for up to US$1bn

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BRITISH pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has struck a deal of up to US$1bn to acquire a biotech company specialising in cell therapy for cancer treatment.

The purchase is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025 which will see Belgium-based EsoBiotec become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca.

Existing cell therapies require extraction of immune system cells which are then genetically modified externally before being reinserted into the body. This can take weeks and depletes the body of important cells. EsoBiotec specialises in in vivo cell therapy – therapies that genetically engineer immune cells within a patient’s body to target cancer cells, administered intravenously.

EsoBiotec and AstraZeneca say the in vivo treatment approach is more accessible, effective, and affordable, and requires a simpler manufacturing process.

Susan Galbraith, vice-president of AstraZeneca’s oncology and haematology R&D, said: “We are excited about the acquisition of EsoBiotec and the opportunity to rapidly advance their promising in vivo platform.

“We believe it has the potential to transform cell therapy and will enable us to scale these innovative treatments so that many more patients around the world can access them.

“EsoBiotec will accelerate and expand the impact of our recent investments and [this acquisition] marks a major step forward in realising our ambition to harness the full potential of cell therapy.”