🧬 ISSUE No. 10 – Oct 2, 2024

💰 Agilent Technologies Acquires BIOVECTRA for $725 Million to Expand CDMO Services | 😼 How to stay motivated continuously.

Author

Anthony Ao
October 02, 2024

ISSUE No. 10 – Oct 2, 2024

Hey there,

Two days in, and I hope you all start Q4 2024 strongly. 💪

In this issue, we are going to talk about an acquisition made by Agilent Technologies, a lab tech company with a reported revenue of $6.83 billion, and how to stay motivated continuously.

I feature this news this week because throughout the past year coaching a handful of iGEM Startups teams, I saw that a commonplace that gets the aspiring entrepreneurs-to-be stuck is to come up with a business model and exit strategy that makes sense. Frankly, not many have heard of the concept of CDMO, let alone the good chance that a good CDMO will get bought out by a bigger player in the field.

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Not sure what this newsletter is about? Read the very first post here.

I. What changes - news to watch this week

💰 Agilent Technologies Acquires BIOVECTRA for $725 Million to Expand CDMO Services

Santa Clara, CA – Agilent Technologies has made a significant move to strengthen its foothold in the CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) market by completing the acquisition of BIOVECTRA, a leading North American CDMO known for its expertise in therapeutics, for a reported $725 million. This strategic acquisition expands Agilent’s capabilities in the cGMP production of mRNA, plasmid DNA, and more.

What This Acquisition Means

BIOVECTRA brings over 50 years of experience in biologic and small molecule manufacturing, operating from state-of-the-art facilities across North America. This acquisition enables Agilent to offer end-to-end solutions for companies developing complex therapies, from early clinical phases to large-scale commercial production.

With the BIOVECTRA acquisition, Agilent gains access to an advanced portfolio of cGMP manufacturing technologies and services, including biologics, mRNA, plasmid DNA production, and fermentation-based manufacturing.

This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to providing customers the most advanced capabilities to accelerate their therapeutics programs, including best-in-class cGMP pharmaceutical manufacturing.

During a biotech startup conference I attended, a VC investment presentation offered a revealing insight: pharmaceutical giants are exceptionally cash-rich, possessing the financial capacity to acquire the entire landscape of biotech startups - they are just loaded with cash.

Anthony Ao

About BIOVECTRA

BIOVECTRA is a leading North American Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with over 50 years of experience in biologic and small molecule manufacturing. Specializing in complex chemistries, fermentation, biologics, plasmid DNA, and mRNA production, BIOVECTRA provides high-quality development and manufacturing services across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. With state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to innovation, BIOVECTRA supports the journey from early-stage development to large-scale commercial production. This dedication to quality and expertise has made them a trusted partner in advancing therapeutics and life-saving treatments.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) stands as a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, providing innovative solutions that empower customers to bring groundbreaking science to life. Their comprehensive suite of products includes state-of-the-art instruments, software, and services, all designed to tackle the most complex challenges in research and development. In fiscal 2023, Agilent reported revenues of $6.83 billion and currently employs a global workforce of approximately 18,000.

Read more about the exit strategy of biotech companies here.

II. What never changes - timeless wisdom

😼 How to stay motivated continuously

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If there is no destination, it is drifting, not sailing. Motivation is ultimately based on how clear the destination is and why getting to the destination matters at all.

Anthony Ao

I recently talked with a friend studying at the medical school at New York University, and we were discussing how to stay motivated for as long as we want.

First, being motivated may have little changes on your packed daily schedule, as it is filled with chores, work, and some free time. However, this state significantly affects your mental health or state of mind as it brings you new perspectives on things. In other words, you may continue doing the same thing you were doing, but now you see things differently and see things you did not see.

This is my definition of being motivated and having a mental change. There is no clear correlation between motivation and efficiency, and being motivated should not be interchangeably seen as being productive. On the other hand, being motivated and creative should always go hand in hand.

If there is no destination, it is drifting, not sailing. Motivation is ultimately based on how clear the destination is and why getting to the destination matters at all. Knowing what is coming up in the 3-month and 12-month window will keep your focus on the present and whether you are heading anywhere or merely drifting. If no significant events are to be unfolded in the coming three months, you may need to see things differently and find small wins to celebrate.

Regardless of what you are currently doing, be it working, studying, or building something, the sense of progress should always be in place. If you are working, maybe you are working on the upcoming examinations for professional certificates. If you are studying, maybe your program has midterms, finals, and other curricula that you must prepare and work on beforehand. If you are building a product, you ship components of the project now and then.

In essence, regardless of your tasks, you as an individual are advancing, becoming better, and transforming your time into your craft. This is why you will need to review your current state of life if you see nothing exciting to anticipate in the coming three months. On a longer timeline, this also applies to the 12-month window.

Continue reading here…

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Let’s have a break…

Bruce Levin is the scientist behind YESCARTA, the first FDA-approved CAR-T Cell Therapy product in 2017. If you have him on the scientific advisory board (SAB) of your biotech startup, you will surely raise millions of dollars.

To praise and glorify him, let’s see one of his posts on X this week.

If you are an AI enthusiast, you better know the father of it, Yann LeCun.

III. Book Quotes

Here are some book quotes for you to ponder over the weekend.

Thanks for reading,

— Anthony

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