Ahmedabad, January 15, 2026: Zydus Lifesciences Limited (NSE: Zyduslife, BSE: 532321) on Thursday announced the successful completion of its multi-pronged acquisition involving equity participation in U.S.-based Agenus Inc. and the takeover of two advanced biologics manufacturing facilities in California, marking a significant expansion of its global biologics footprint.
The transaction includes the acquisition of biologics manufacturing facilities located in Emeryville and Berkeley, California, along with a strategic equity investment in Agenus Inc. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Zynext Ventures USA LLC, Zydus has acquired 2,133,333 equity shares of Agenus Inc., representing a 5.9 percent stake on a fully diluted basis.
Entry into Global Bio-CDMO Segment
With the closure of the deal, Zydus has formally entered the global biologics contract development and manufacturing organisation space. All acquired manufacturing assets and operations will now operate under a newly incorporated U.S.-based subsidiary, Zylidac Bio LLC, which will serve biopharmaceutical companies worldwide with biologics manufacturing and CDMO services.The facilities significantly enhance Zydus’ capabilities in large-scale biologics production and provide a localized manufacturing base in the United States.
Licensing Rights for Key Immunotherapy Assets
Alongside the asset and equity acquisition, Zydus has also completed an exclusive licensing agreement with Agenus Inc. for the commercial rights to its investigational immunotherapy combination Botensilimab and Balstilimab in India and Sri Lanka. Under a separate manufacturing arrangement, Zydus will act as the exclusive manufacturer for both drug substance and drug product for these late-stage oncology candidates.Management Commentary
Commenting on the completion of the transaction, Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, said the launch of Zylidac Bio LLC positions the group as a reliable U.S.-based partner for advanced biologics manufacturing. He added that the move supports secure, high-quality, and domestic supply chains while strengthening Zydus’ ability to serve global innovators with scalable manufacturing solutions.Dr. Garo Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus Inc., stated that the collaboration enables Agenus to monetise its manufacturing assets while securing dedicated U.S. biologics capacity to advance its immunotherapy pipeline. He noted that the transaction allows Agenus to sharpen its focus on late-stage development and expand patient access to its lead assets globally.
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