Abcam Acquires Applied StemCell Gene Editing Platform, Oncol

Abcam said on Thursday that it has acquired the gene editing platform and oncology product portfolio of Applied StemCell for the research and diagnostic markets.
 
According to Abcam, the deal includes Applied StemCell's portfolio of cell lines and its AccuRef reference materials product line, which is used to mimic cancer mutations and create biologically relevant quality control and reference standards for over 40 cancer genes.
 
Abcam said that it is working with Applied StemCell to ensure continuity of service and project delivery as ownership of the assets is transferred between the companies. UK-based Abcam added that it intends to use its acquisition to build out a discovery engine for developing novel edited cell lines and support its knockout validation initiative for antibody quality control.
 
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
 
"We are excited to … [bring] in one of the most widely deployed and technically successful cell engineering platforms into the Abcam family," Cheri Walker, senior vice president of corporate development at Abcam, said in a statement. "The cell line market is in the early stages of development as a research tool, where the ready provision of more choice, with the right gene targets in the right cell lines, will allow the market to rapidly expand."
 
Abcam acquired the live cell line and lysates portfolio of EdiGene in July after dropping its bid for gene editing and gene modulation technologies firm Horizon Discovery.