Nektar Therapeutics’ PEG Business Acquired by Ampersand, Rebranded as Gannet BioChem

• Ampersand Capital Partners has acquired Nektar Therapeutics’ PEGylation reagent manufacturing business, now branded as Gannet BioChem.

• Gannet BioChem operates from a 124,000 sq. ft. FDA-inspected facility in Huntsville, Alabama, specialising in polyethylene glycol (PEG) reagents for biopharmaceuticals.

Ampersand Capital Partners, a private equity firm with a focus on life sciences and healthcare, has completed the acquisition of Nektar Therapeutics’ PEGylation reagent manufacturing business. The newly rebranded entity, Gannet BioChem, will operate from its established facility in Huntsville, Alabama.

The acquisition underscores Gannet BioChem’s prominence as a specialty CDMO with over three decades of expertise in producing polyethylene glycol (PEG) reagents—key components for biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapeutics. The facility has contributed to the development of nine FDA-approved therapeutics and currently supplies PEG reagents for several marketed drugs.

David Anderson, General Partner at Ampersand Capital Partners, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition. “The PEG reagent manufacturing team at Gannet BioChem has a well-established track record and long history of delivering high-quality, specialized PEG reagents for commercial and clinical stage biologic therapeutics,” he said. Anderson added that with Ampersand’s support, the company is set to build on its legacy and expand its global partnerships.

Gannet BioChem’s state-of-the-art infrastructure spans 124,000 square feet, featuring areas for small and large-scale production and significant expansion potential. Its strategic location near Huntsville’s life sciences research park enhances its connectivity to key innovation hubs.