Ophthalmology business Acquired by Axol Bioscience — Healthcare M&A

Axol Bioscience Ltd., a strategic acquirer in healthcare, has announced the purchase of the ophthalmology business unit of Newcells Biotech. The deal is structured as an add-on acquisition and is valued at $2.8 million, with the transaction size reported as under $10 million. The acquired scope includes Newcells’ specialist team, facilities, and intellectual property tied to the supply of proprietary iPSC-derived products and ophthalmology research services. These offerings support biopharma, biotechnology firms, and CRO customers across Europe and the United States.

Axol provides induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies used in drug discovery and research, with a focus on physiologically relevant in vitro retinal models for ophthalmology. The acquired portfolio centers on advanced retinal organoids and 2D retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) models, which are used to support preclinical research and translational development, including work in areas such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. The acquisition follows Axol’s earlier expansion into ophthalmology and is intended to deepen its capabilities in retinal safety and toxicity testing as well as gene therapy development.

The company said the transaction strengthens its position as an independent provider of iPSC-derived retinal models globally, combining complementary expertise and IP. Axol’s announcement also references a recent $2.8 million financing round led by US life sciences investor BroadOak Capital Partners, supporting international scaling, product development, and manufacturing scale-up. The deal is currently listed as announced, with closing timing not specified.