Zydus Lifesciences Limited has announced the successful closure of its acquisition of Agenus Inc.'s biologics manufacturing facilities in Emeryville, CA, and Berkeley, CA, along with an equity stake in Agenus Inc. The company also secured exclusive licensing rights for Botensilimab (BOT) and Balsilimab (BAL) in India and Sri Lanka.

This comprehensive closure, effective January 15, 2026, follows the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The acquired manufacturing assets and operations will function under a new U.S.-based subsidiary named Zylidac Bio LLC, positioning Zydus in the global biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) business.

Dr. Sharvil P. Patel, Managing Director of Zydus Lifesciences, stated that Zylidac Bio LLC will offer CDMO services, supporting secure, domestic, and high-quality supply chains for advanced therapies. Dr. Garo Armen, Chairman and CEO of Agenus, Inc., highlighted that the transaction allows Agenus to monetize manufacturing assets while securing U.S. biologics capacity for BOT and BAL, sharpening its focus on late-stage development.

The establishment of Zylidac Bio LLC is seen as a strategic move, especially in light of the BIOSECURE Act, providing a compliant, U.S.-based partner for biopharmaceutical companies seeking to transition their supply chains. Zydus previously announced its venture capital arm, Zynext Ventures, completed an equity investment in Agenus Inc. This acquisition complements Zydus' strategic partnership with Formycon for a Keytruda® biosimilar.