Summa Equity Fund II (Summa) has acquired a majority stake in Axion BioSystems, a provider of MEA and impedance technology for single-cell analysis. Axion BioSystems provides an integrated technology platform for cell activity monitoring, based on its unique Bioelectronic Assay technology. The instruments are used by academia and biopharma customers, the Assays allow for non-invasive, real-time study of cells.
Founded in 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, by Tom O’Brien and Jim Ross PhD, Axion BioSystems originally developed its technology from a graduate research project at Georgia Tech. Now operating across North America, EMEA and APAC, the company has placed more than 500 systems to date and has grown to more than 60 full-time employees.
Understanding cell behaviour is central to some of the most important segments of pharmaceuticals, including the development of cell and gene therapeutics and understanding drug safety. Cell and gene therapy (CGT) are the fastest growing segments within the pharmaceuticals sector, with the promise of treating, preventing or potentially curing a whole host of acquired and genetic diseases, including cancer. Axion BioSystems is well-placed to capitalise on this demand and help to accelerate the development of CGT, with market-leading technology in a large and rapidly growing market.
Summa Equity’s investment in Axion BioSystems aligns with its focus on solving global challenges, and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG #3 ‘Strengthen health measures and medical standards globally and ensure the well-being of individuals’, and #9 ‘Enhancing scientific research and supporting technology development and innovation’.
Tommi Unkuri, Partner at Summa Equity, comments: “Summa has been focused on solutions in the CGT market for a long period of time, due to its alignment with our strategy and its significant potential for growth. Axion BioSystems impressed us with its market-leading, highly competitive and scalable technology, which gives both academics and biopharma organisations the ability to go much deeper in their understanding of cell behaviour, enabling faster, more accurate and more cost-efficient drug discovery, development and quality control. We look forward to working with the team as it continues to develop its technology and grow its market share, while continuing to solve some of society’s biggest pharmaceutical and healthcare challenges.”
Tom O’Brien, CEO & President of Axion BioSystems, comments: “We have been highly impressed with Summa’s understanding of the life sciences market, and belief in the potential of our technology to accelerate innovation in many areas of pharmaceuticals and healthcare. We believe that they will bring tremendous value in helping us to increase our commercial capacity, reach and market awareness, to scale up significantly, and have an even greater impact in the years to come.”
For the transaction, William Blair acted as exclusive financial advisor, Jones Day as legal advisors and Wipfli as accounting and tax advisor to Axion. White & Case acted as legal and debt financing advisor, PwC as FDD and tax advisor, and Frank Partners as ESG advisor to Summa Equity
