Indianapolis-based Biotech startup Sexton Biotechnologies has been acquired by Biolife Solutions, a leading company providing biological products for cell and gene therapies in the vast biological market.
Founded in 2019 with funding from Cook Regentec, BioCrossroad, Casdin Capital, and BioLife Solutions, Sexton was spun off from Cook Regentec. The startup specializes in the development and supply of biomanufactured products for gene and cell therapy. As a landmark for Cook Regentec, Sexton develops bioengineering tools and vehicles with flexible automation and cell-manufacturing capabilities that increase the probability of a positive clinical outcome, reduce costs and save time.
The startup has started gene and cell therapy clinical trials with several of its products, including proprietary sealed vials for cell therapy encapsulation, human platelet lysate media, and serum used in cell manufacturing and automated cell processing machines. In 2019
Sexton’s portfolio includes the Signata CT-5 liquid handling system, the CellSeal platform of cold storage tools and filling/finishing systems, and human platelet lysate growth supplements. President and CEO of BioLife Solutions, Mike Rice commented on his investments and welcomed Sexton to be a partner of the company:
“Our team has identified and closed six acquisitions in the last two and a half years, assembling a portfolio of class-defining bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets. We welcome Team Sexton to BioLife and look forward to the contributions of Sexton’s consumable products to our growing revenue base.”
Some of BioLife Solutions’ typical investment products can be listed as proprietary CryoStor® cryogenic media, HypoThermosol® transport and storage media, ThawSTAR® waterless automatic defrost product line, Custom Biogenic Systems® high capacity freezers, evo® cold chain management systems, Stirling Ultracold ULT freezers, and SciSafe biomaterials storage.
With the biotech industry gaining ground as funding opportunities increase in the post-COVID19 economy, startups like Sexton are becoming increasingly attractive for established companies to boost their operations.
