GE HealthCare has agreed to buy PET radiopharmaceutical contract manufacturer Sofie Biosciences from private equity firm Trilantic North America in an all-cash deal valued at $945 million.
Sofie runs 15 contract manufacturing organization (CMO) sites across the U.S. with 21 cyclotrons, plus a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) site focused on theranostics. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, with Sofie becoming part of GE HealthCare's Pharmaceutical Diagnostics (PDx) segment, the company said.
"The PET radiopharmaceutical market is expanding rapidly with the introduction of innovative radiotracers and advances in precision care, including the growing adoption of targeted therapies," said Kevin O'Neill, president and chief executive officer of GE HealthCare's PDx segment, in a statement. "As part of GE HealthCare, Sofie Biosciences is expected to grow in the low double digits, and enables us to participate across the radiopharmaceutical value stream, meeting customer demand through a mix of GE HealthCare owned and partner facilities. Sofie Biosciences has a highly skilled team with deep expertise serving U.S. customers, including manufacturing our Flyrcado (F-18 flurpiridaz) product."
FAPI-74 in the pipeline
About 20 PET radiotracers and more than 30 radiotherapeutics are in development across the industry, according to GE HealthCare, including Sofie's FAPI-74, an F-18-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET agent in phase III development. GE HealthCare already holds the rights to the tracer outside the U.S. FAPI has the potential for diagnostic and theranostic use across a range of oncologic and nononcologic indications, the company said.
After closing, Sofie will keep operating as an independent manufacturing partner to its existing customers, including making products for other radiopharmaceutical companies. GE HealthCare said it will also keep working with its other U.S. CMO partners on its proprietary F-18 agents and pipeline products.
