Grifols, a global producer of plasma-derived medicines and developer of diagnostic solutions, has entered into a transaction to acquire the remaining equity of Alkahest, Inc. for $146 million. The transaction, subject to customary approvals, is expected to close in early 2021.

Alkahest, a Silicon Valley-based biotechnology company was founded on research into the therapeutic use of plasma proteins in combating diseases associated with aging as identified in the Stanford University lab of Tony Wyss-Coray, professor of Neurology at Stanford and co-founder and board member of Alkahest.

In addition to the clinical development of specific plasma fractions and protein inhibitors, Alkahest is focused on developing a complete understanding of the human plasma proteome. This proteomic platform of targets will help Grifols and Alkahest to discover new therapeutics and diagnostics, develop new plasma proteins, new indications for currently licensed plasma proteins, biomarkers for diagnostics, recombinant proteins and antibodies as well as small-molecule drugs.

Alkahest, as a wholly owned subsidiary within the Grifols innovation office (GIANT), will focus on proteins with biological impact that change with age. Alkahest has identified more than 8,000 separate proteins and using advanced techniques of molecular analysis at the cellular level, an array of new products are expected to enter Grifols’ discovery and development pipeline and bring new therapeutic medicines to market.