Fujifilm To Buy Cell Therapy Plant From Atara For $100M

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, will acquire a cell therapy plant from Atara Biotherapeutics Inc ATRA for $100 million. 

• According to the company, the 90,000-square-foot facility in Thousand Oaks, California, is "readily expandable" and has the flexibility to produce clinical and commercial treatments, including allogenic T-cell and CAR-T immunotherapies.
• As part of the deal, Fujifilm Diosynth, will begin a long-term manufacturing agreement to help produce treatments in Atara's clinical pipeline, including tabelecleucel for Epstein-Barr virus-positive lymphoproliferative disease following a transplant.
• Also See: Atara Bio Unveils Pivotal Data On T Cell Therapy Tabelecleucel In Transplant Patients.
• Fujifilm said it plans to offer positions to the plant's current 140 employees. "The collective expertise of the team will further support our efforts as a world-class CDMO," Fujifilm Diosynth CEO Martin Meeson said in a statement.
• The agreement is expected to reduce Atara's planned operating expenses.
• Upon closing, the upfront consideration, along with the reduction in operating expenses, in addition to Atara's existing cash balance, is expected to fund Atara's planned operations into Q4 2023.
• Price Action: ATRA shares are up 4.92% at $16.00 during the premarket session on the last check Thursday.