APC parent to be bought by Otsuka Chemical
The purchase, financial terms of which have not been disclosed, will include both APC and China-based Ito Life Sciences Shanghai, all of which are currently owned by Japan’s Itoham Foods. The deal is expected to complete on September 1.
APC, which is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, provides life science developers with tools for peptide and protein research. In addition, the firm makes proteins on a contractual basis for drug industry clients at its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) good manufacturing practice (GMP) accredited facility in the city of Vista in San Diego County.
Commenting on the deal, APC COO Takahiro Ogata said that the firm "is poised to benefit greatly from this acquisition. By operating as an enterprise of Otsuka Chemical Company, we will create new global networking opportunities as well as channel more financial resources to our production and manufacturing facilities.”
Ogata added that the purchase will enhance the company’s ability to provide peptide development and manufacturing services to industrial clients in the pharmaceutical industry.
Total Peptide Management
APC’s business is based around its Total Peptide Management (TPM) program, which is a customised service platform that offers a broad array of high-quality peptides, value-added services and expert consultation to drugmakers and biotechnology firms.
Services offered by the platform include: Fluorescein (FAM), Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and tetramethyl rhodamine (TAMRA) labelling; protein pegylation and disulfide formation expertise; and peptide-protein conjugation production capabilities.
APC also provides process development services for pharmaceutical firms wishing to use proteins in their drug discovery and development operations, as well as those wishing to industrialize the manufacture of protein-based medications.
The firm says that the principal advantage of the TPM system is that it leverages the experience and expertise of both its research staff and leadership team.
APC also believes that the program helps pharmaceutical and biotech customers properly select peptides and follow correct procedures and compliance guidelines from research development through scale-up to full manufacturing.
