MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced the closing of the transaction to acquire Exelead, following regulatory clearances and the fulfillment of other customary closing conditions, for approximately $780 million in cash.

The business combination is expected to enable the Life Science business to provide its customers with comprehensive end-to-end contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services across the mRNA value chain. The Life Science business plans to further invest over € 500 million to scale up Exelead's technology over the next ten years.

"With the addition of Exelead's leading capabilities and highly experienced team, our Life Science business achieves an important milestone in becoming one of the leading CDMO players in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, offering an integrated CDMO across the mRNA value chain from pre-clinical to commercial," said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and CEO Life Science. "mRNA holds much promise as a treatment well beyond Covid-19 and we will further invest in this technology to help realize its potential."