Fujifilm Corp. subsidiary FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has completed the acquisition of Atara Biotherapeutic’s cell therapy manufacturing facility in Thousand Oaks for $100 million upfront.
The finalized deal also includes the commencement of a long-term strategic supply agreement that will see Fujifilm Diosynth provide Atara with capabilities required for the manufacturing of its clinical and commercial cell therapies. The manufacturing agreement could potentially extend up to 10 years.
The 90,000-square-foot facility will also be used by Fujifilm Diosynth to manufacture cell therapies for other companies in addition to Atara. The manufacturing and quality staff that worked under Atara have transitioned to employment under Fujifilm Diosynth.
Atara has retained a technical operations team that will continue to manage external manufacturing partnerships, manufacturing process science and development, quality assurance, supply chain and logistics, according to a statement.
Atara retains a research center at 2380 Conejo Spectrum St. that is fully operational and houses the company’s pre-clinical, translational sciences, analytical development teams and manufacturing process sciences.
The agreement is expected to reduce Atara’s planned operating expenses over the multiyear partnership period, according to a statement.
Shares of Atara closed down 55 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $9.29 on the Nasdaq Tuesday, a day when the market closed down more than 2 percent.