Repligen strikes $1.5B BioLife buyout to bag cell therapy product pharmas rely on

Repligen has struck a $1.5 billion deal to buy BioLife Solutions to expand its presence in the fast-growing cell therapy market.

The acquisition gives Repligen access to BioLife’s technology to preserve cells throughout manufacturing and the supply chain, including its flagship CryoStor biopreservation media, which supports top-selling cell therapies from companies like Johnson & Johnson, Gilead, and Bristol Myers Squibb.

BioLife shareholders will receive $11.25 in cash and 0.1442 shares of Repligen for each share, valuing the company at $31 per share, representing a premium of about 6.2% to its last close and 24% based on the 90-day volume-weighted average price.

The deal consideration consists of approximately 64% Repligen stock and 36% cash, with the cash portion funded with cash on hand, and the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, BioLife stockholder approval, and other customary closing conditions.

Repligen expects the acquisition to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share by at least 5 cents in the first year and at least 25 cents in the second year, while generating at least $20 million in cost synergies in the first year and more than $30 million in the second year, primarily through public-company cost reductions, administrative efficiencies, and manufacturing optimization.

The combined company will see new modalities such as cell and gene therapies account for roughly 25% of Repligen’s revenue, up from less than 20% today, and Repligen plans to cross-sell into the overlapping customer base and use its infrastructure to help BioLife expand in the Asia-Pacific region.

Prior to the announcement, Repligen reported preliminary second-quarter 2026 revenue growth of about 12–13% organically, while BioLife reported preliminary Q2 revenue of $28.5 million, up 21% year-over-year, reflecting strong momentum in the cell therapy segment.