An international consortium led by Fortissimo Capital acquired Sanquin Plasma Products (“SPP”) from the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, a Dutch non-profit organization responsible for the blood supply in the Netherlands.
The consortium that acquired SPP is comprised of a group of international investors led by Fortissimo Capital Fund, a leading private equity fund, together with additional investors with extensive experience in the biomedical sector and the marketing of plasma products, including: BioSolutions LLC (Plasma pharmaceutical), Nir Epstein of Epstein Capital (private capital), OBF investments (the investment arm of one of the largest blood banks in the US), and Mesola Inversiones SL, (a group of Latin American pharmaceutical companies).
SPP has revenues of hundreds of millions of Euros currently services primarily, European countries and employs 900 employees. SPP, headquartered in Amsterdam with manufacturing facilities in Amsterdam and Brussels, uses advanced biotechnological methods to compose proprietary pharmaceuticals from blood plasma and offer contract manufacturing and tech transfer services to pharmaceutical companies. The Sanquin Foundation retained a minority stake in the acquired entity and committed to a long-term plasma supply agreement.
As part of the transaction, Chris Lamb will be appointed as the CEO of SPP. Chris, the founder of BioSolutions LLC, with more than 30 years of experience in the blood plasma space, is highly regarded in the industry. Chris previously served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the American Red Cross Blood Plasma division.
Yoav Hineman, a partner at Fortissimo, said: “Plasma is a critical component of the treatment for many serious health problems. The global plasma market has been growing significantly, and such growth is expected to continue at an accelerated pace in the coming years. Demand for Plasma is outpacing the current supply, creating a significant shortage of plasma products. SPP is well-positioned to leverage its access to Plasma, its proprietary products, and its manufacturing capabilities to become a significant player in the industry.”
Chris Lamb added: “SPP’s industry expertise and production capacity will enable us to expand internationally. I look forward to working with my partners in building a world-class plasma pharmaceutical company.”
The Plasma Industry
Plasma is the liquid portion of blood. Plasma contains hundreds of essential proteins and antibodies that are vital in the body’s ability to maintain critical functions, including controlling bleeding and fighting infections. Without enough of any one of these proteins, a person could have or develop a life-threatening illness, such as an immune deficiency, genetic emphysema, hemophilia, rabies, or tetanus.
Plasma is obtained from human donors by removing Plasma from blood and recirculating the blood back to the donor. It is a safe and harmless process.
Recent literature proving the efficacy of Plasma-derived products and newfound applications have increased the demand for Plasma. Pharmaceutical companies use Plasma in the formulation of medications for the treatment of certain illnesses and conditions such as immune deficiencies, shock, burns and bleeding disorders. Other applications include plasma transfusions for certain types of cancer, including leukemia, liver or bone marrow transplants and hemophilia.
