ArchiMed backs German plasmid manufacturer PlasmidFactory

• PlasmidFactory is a manufacturer and service provider for plasmid and minicircle DNA
• Plasmids are a key component in the production of mRNA covid-19 vaccines
• The company’s revenues have grown an average of 100% annually since 2019

ArchiMed announced it has invested in PlasmidFactory. The company, headquartered in Bielefeld, Germany, develops and manufactures high-grade plasmid and minicircle DNA, used to modify cells and produce viral gene therapy vectors for combating viruses, cancer and other medical ailments. Plasmids are a key component in the production of mRNA covid-19 vaccines.

“Plasmids, and cell and gene therapies in general, offer enormous potential to improve healthcare,” said Loïc Kubitza, partner at ArchiMed. “Combining ArchiMed’s financial power and international healthcare network with PlasmidFactory’s know-how and processes should scale up the group’s production and sales.”

PlasmidFactory is the second buy-and-build investment of ArchiMed’s MED Platform II fund. It has raised more than €2 billion since January, making it one of the largest healthcare buyout funds at a global level and the largest ever in Europe, according to ArchiMed.

PlasmidFactory’s revenues have grown an average of 100 percent annually since 2019. The company opened a new production facility in May. The investment from ArchiMed will fund the construction of a larger facility.

“Even with accelerated roll-outs, demand for plasmids is likely to vastly exceed supply for years to come,” said Martin Schleef, founder and CEO of PlasmidFactory. “ArchiMed will act as our key catalyst for rapid and efficient expansion in a highly complex domain.”

ArchiMed, headquartered in Lyon, focuses on the healthcare industry. It invests in European and North American small and mid-market businesses. ArchiMed manages over €5 billion in healthcare assets across its various funds.