Evonik has acquired German biotech company JeNaCell. The acquisition expands Evonik’s biomaterials portfolio to include biotechnologically derived cellulose. The material developed by JeNaCell is used in medical technology and dermatology for the treatment of wounds and burns as well as in hydroactive skin care. The company’s employees will continue to work at the development and production site based in Jena, Germany.
Evonik invested in the start-up through its own venture capital arm in 2015. Following the takeover, JeNaCell's portfolio will be integrated into Evonik's healthcare business. The company will accelerate the portfolio shift of its Nutrition & Care division towards system solutions and expands the division-wide technology platform of natural materials for medical technology.
“JeNaCell has developed one of the most innovative biomaterials for medical device technologies. With the help of the creativity and expertise of JeNaCell's specialists, we will ensure that even more patients benefit from these products in the future,” said Thomas Riermeier, head of Evonik’s Health Care business line. “The acquisition will help us to further strengthen our position as an innovation hub for the world’s leading medical technology companies.”
“The acquisition by Evonik is a quantum leap for JeNaCell to realize the full potential of our innovative technology,” said Dana Kralisch, CEO and co-founder of JeNaCell. “We are excited to have found a strong and trusted partner to develop our technology platform and a new home for our passionate team of experts. Together, we will expand our customer base and explore new application areas.”
JeNaCell began as a spinoff company from the Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena in Germany. In 2017, the company launched epicite, a medical wound dressing for the treatment of chronic wounds, surgical wounds and burns that is based on biotechnologically derived cellulose. The product is a skin-friendly and soft biomaterial that provides a healing-promoting microclimate on the wound and can be removed painlessly, the company claims. Further technologies developed by JeNaCell include soft tissue implants, transdermal delivery systems and dermatological applications.