Salt Lake City-based Echelon Biosciences has been acquired by VION Biosciences, a life science platform company based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Echelon is a medical and biological materials developer located on the University of Utah campus. VION manufactures specialty reagents in the life science research, diagnostic and drug discovery space.
VION Biosciences is a portfolio company of Nashville, Tennessee-based Iron Path Capital and is led by life science industry veteran Mark Thornton.
“Joining forces with VION Biosciences provides an exciting opportunity to amplify the impact of our products and technologies,” said Bert V. Israelsen, former Echelon owner and president. “The combination of the team at Echelon and the VION senior leadership is a recipe for success, and we look forward to contributing to VION’s innovative vision and advancing scientific discovery together.”
“Our customers are moving science forward daily and our role is to look ahead to the future for what they need,” said Mark Thornton, CEO of VION Biosciences. “The acquisition of Echelon Biosciences allows us to more effectively serve our customers who are focused on the delivery of a variety of mRNA and other gene-based biotherapeutics. This is the first of many decisions that will continue to evolve VION as an innovative leader in the life science industry.”
As part of the transition, the technical and commercial leadership within Echelon will remain in place.