Start-up AveThera acquires Fraunhofer site for biologics production

Due to the strongly industrialized business model of Fraunhofer ITEM's Pharmaceutical Biotechnology division at the Braunschweig site, the institute management, together with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft headquarters, pushed for the takeover of the site and its employees by a private-sector company. The offer of the Braunschweig site met with great interest from numerous biotech companies. The new owner brings fresh perspectives and resources that will enable optimal use of the existing technologies and talents.

The buyer, AveThera GmbH, is pursuing the goal of developing, manufacturing and marketing differentiated biologics internationally. To this end, the company is investing in the construction of modern production facilities for biological active ingredients and drugs as well as in laboratories for quality control and quality assurance at the Hennigsdorf site.

The new site in Braunschweig complements this infrastructure with additional capacities in development and production. AveThera is thus laying the foundations for accelerated market access for several biologics products within the next three to four years - with the aim of providing patients in Germany, Europe and worldwide with innovative therapies.

Fahimeh Mahboudi, founder of AveThera GmbH: "The acquisition of this manufacturing facility for active pharmaceutical ingredients is an important step for the further development of Avethera. We are very pleased to welcome the highly qualified and motivated pharmaceutical biotechnology team from Fraunhofer ITEM to our still young Avethera family and to successfully develop the future of the site together."

"The transfer of the Fraunhofer ITEM site in Braunschweig to AveThera GmbH represents a successful transfer of technical expertise to industry. Due to the close proximity to industry and the strongly entrepreneurial business model of the unit in Braunschweig, the takeover by a private company is not only logical, but will also enable the site to fully develop its innovative potential," says Prof. Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. "With this decision, we are not only securing the future of the location, but also creating new prospects for innovation and collaboration in the region. I am convinced that the existing skills and expertise of the employees are an ideal fit for AveThera GmbH's portfolio and will make an important contribution to the company's innovative strength and success."

"The takeover of the Braunschweig site by AveThera GmbH is a significant step in strengthening the biopharmaceutical innovation landscape. We are convinced that this transfer will not only unleash synergies, but also provide new impetus for research and development in the region. This acquisition is a successful example of the successful transfer of expertise to industry, which will sustainably promote the innovative strength of the location and is also an excellent result for everyone involved," adds Prof. Constantin Häfner, Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

With regard to the pharmaceutical biotechnology team, Prof. Norbert Krug, Institute Director at Fraunhofer ITEM, emphasizes: "We are very pleased that our former employees at the Braunschweig site can continue to contribute their proven expertise in biotechnological process development and production together. We wish them all the best and every success for their future collaboration at AveThera GmbH."

AveThera GmbH received strategic support from Leva Sciences GmbH as part of the transaction. Its founder and managing director Andreas Herrmann explained that the successful brokering of the deal marked an important milestone for AveThera. With the acquisition of Fraunhofer ITEM's pharmaceutical biotechnology business, the company is sharpening its profile in the dynamically growing market for biological active ingredients and at the same time accelerating the expansion of production and marketing capacities.

The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research HZI welcomes the retention of GMP production at the Braunschweig site. This strengthens the innovative power of the research campus and its further development. AveThera expands the circle of biotechnology companies at the site and thus becomes part of the innovation campus.

The transfer of the Braunschweig site of Fraunhofer ITEM and its employees took place on March 16, 2026.