JSR Life Sciences Announces Definitive Agreement to Transfer Crown Bioscience to Adicon Holdings, Marking a Significant Strategic Realignment in Oncology Research Services
JSR Life Sciences LLC (“JSR Life Sciences”), a global leader in life sciences materials, bioprocessing solutions, and research services, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to transfer Crown Bioscience Inc. (“Crown Bioscience”) to Adicon Holdings Limited (“Adicon”). Adicon, one of China’s premier independent clinical laboratory service providers and a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, will acquire Crown Bioscience, positioning the company for its next phase of global expansion. The transaction, which is subject to standard regulatory clearances and customary closing conditions, is expected to be finalized in 2026.
This strategic move marks a pivotal milestone for both organizations. For JSR Life Sciences, the transfer supports a refined long-term strategy centered on strengthening its core capabilities and refocusing global operations. For Crown Bioscience, the acquisition represents a major opportunity to accelerate its mission of driving innovation in oncology research, drug discovery, and translational medicine. Under Adicon’s ownership, Crown Bioscience will operate as a standalone entity, allowing it to expand its global footprint and deepen its commitment to precision oncology.
A New Chapter for Crown Bioscience: Strengthening Oncology Research Under Adicon’s Ownership
Crown Bioscience has long been recognized as one of the world’s leading preclinical Contract Research Organizations (CROs) specializing in oncology. The company’s comprehensive suite of cutting-edge services includes:
- World-leading patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, widely used by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to evaluate therapeutic efficacy, drug resistance, and tumor biology in vivo.
- Advanced tumor organoid platforms, enabling high-fidelity in vitro modeling of patient tumors for therapeutic screening and mechanism-of-action studies.
- A robust portfolio of immuno-oncology assays, supporting discovery and development of immune-based therapies, combination treatments, and checkpoint inhibitors.
- Bioinformatics, data analytics, and computational biology capabilities, providing critical insights to guide translational decision-making and optimize clinical strategies.
These capabilities have positioned Crown Bioscience as an essential partner for biotech companies, pharmaceutical developers, and academic researchers seeking to accelerate oncology drug discovery. With rising global demand for more predictive models and advanced translational tools, Crown’s platforms have become central to shaping the next generation of precision oncology solutions.
Adicon’s acquisition is expected to unlock new avenues for growth and innovation. Leveraging Adicon’s extensive experience in high-throughput clinical diagnostics, laboratory operations, and data analytics, Crown Bioscience will be better positioned to enhance its service portfolio, expand into adjacent research markets, and scale its global operations more efficiently.
JSR Life Sciences Retains Global Biospecimens Business to Support Core Growth Strategy
While Crown Bioscience’s oncology CRO operations will transition to Adicon, JSR Life Sciences will retain full ownership of Crown Bioscience’s Global Biospecimens business, which will continue to operate independently within JSR’s portfolio.
Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, with additional facilities in Frederick, Maryland, the Biospecimens business plays a vital role in the life sciences ecosystem. It provides ethically sourced, high-quality human biospecimens, along with customized procurement, advanced sample processing, and secure storage services. These offerings are foundational to supporting biomarker research, assay development, diagnostic innovation, and drug discovery initiatives.
By keeping the Biospecimens division fully integrated within its global network, JSR Life Sciences will continue to strengthen its capabilities in sample management, precision diagnostics, and translational research support. The decision aligns with the company’s commitment to building long-term value in segments where it has deep expertise, strong customer relationships, and differentiated market presence.
Leadership Perspectives: Strategic Alignment and Shared Vision
Tim Lowery, President and CEO of JSR Life Sciences, emphasized that the transfer of Crown Bioscience followed an extensive strategic review aimed at identifying the optimal future positioning of both businesses.
After careful strategic review, we believe this transaction represents an optimal path forward for both Crown Bioscience and JSR Life Sciences,” Lowery noted. “Adicon’s deep domain expertise and financial backing from The Carlyle Group will empower Crown to scale its groundbreaking oncology services to new heights.”
Lowery also underscored Crown Bioscience’s continued commitment to global operations, despite the change in ownership. Crown’s worldwide network—including its headquarters in San Diego, its expanding U.S. presence, and its operations across Europe and Asia—will remain fully active and positioned for growth.
Major recent initiatives, such as:
- Launching a new Model Development Center in North Carolina,
- Expanding biomarker and advanced imaging capabilities in the United Kingdom, and
- Investing in next-generation oncology research technologies,
demonstrate Crown’s dedication to providing consistent, high-quality service across all geographies. Lowery emphasized that clients will continue to experience the same level of innovation, service excellence, and scientific rigor that has long defined Crown Bioscience.
Adicon’s Strategic Expansion: Strengthening Global Reach in Drug Discovery and Diagnostics
Adicon Holdings Limited, one of the largest independent clinical laboratory service providers in China, brings unique strengths to the acquisition. The company operates a broad network of laboratories equipped with advanced testing platforms, comprehensive diagnostic capabilities, and extensive experience in clinical sample analysis.
Backed by The Carlyle Group—an influential global investment firm with a strong track record in healthcare, biotechnology, and life sciences—Adicon has expanded rapidly across China and is increasingly pursuing global growth opportunities.
Ms. Yang Ling, Chairwoman of Adicon and Head of Asia Healthcare at Carlyle, described the acquisition as a major step in Adicon’s evolution.
This acquisition represents an important milestone in Adicon’s growth journey,” she stated. “With Crown Bioscience’s world-class CRO capabilities, Adicon is expanding its reach across the global healthcare value chain—from clinical diagnostics to drug discovery and translational research. This transaction reinforces Adicon’s vision to become a trusted partner for biopharma innovation and precision diagnostics.”
The integration of Crown Bioscience’s oncology research platforms with Adicon’s diagnostic capabilities positions the combined entity to accelerate breakthroughs in translational medicine, biomarker discovery, and personalized cancer therapies. The partnership is expected to deliver significant synergies in data analytics, laboratory automation, and molecular diagnostics that will benefit customers across the biopharmaceutical industry.
Commitment to Stability During the Transition
Until the transaction closes, Crown Bioscience will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of JSR Life Sciences. Both JSR and Adicon have stressed that the transition will be handled with thoughtful planning, transparency, and a commitment to continuity. No disruptions are anticipated to Crown Bioscience’s ongoing service delivery, projects, or customer relationships.
Clients can expect:
- Continued access to Crown’s global research facilities
- Uninterrupted project timelines and milestones
- Stable leadership and scientific teams
- Adherence to the highest standards of scientific integrity, quality, and regulatory compliance
Both parties have emphasized that maintaining customer trust and operational consistency is a top priority throughout the transition.
A Strategic Realignment Poised to Advance Global Oncology Innovation
JSR Life Sciences’ decision to transfer Crown Bioscience to Adicon marks a forward-looking realignment that supports the long-term growth strategies of all organizations involved. Crown Bioscience stands to benefit from Adicon’s capabilities, financial resources, and operational expertise, positioning it for accelerated growth in the global oncology research market. At the same time, JSR Life Sciences will continue strengthening its core life sciences businesses, including its retained Biospecimens operations and other strategic ventures.
The acquisition represents not only a business transaction but also a broader step toward expanding global access to advanced oncology research tools and improving the efficiency of drug discovery. As the biopharmaceutical landscape grows increasingly complex, collaborations of this scale will be essential to advancing precision medicine and delivering better outcomes for patients worldwide.
With the transaction on track for completion in 2026, JSR, Adicon, and Crown Bioscience are poised to begin a new chapter that aligns scientific innovation, operational excellence, and strategic investment—laying the groundwork for the next generation of oncology breakthroughs.
JSR Life Sciences LLC is a division of JSR Corporation, a Tokyo-based global leader in high-performance materials for life sciences, electronics, and other industries. With a focus on enabling breakthroughs in precision medicine, JSR Life Sciences delivers innovative solutions in cell culture, bioseparation, and bioprocessing, supporting customers from research to commercialization. For more information, visit www.jsrlifesciences.com.
Crown Bioscience, a JSR Life Sciences company and global CRO, specializes in oncology and immuno-oncology drug discovery and development. We partner with biotech and pharmaceutical companies to provide innovative, tailored solutions spanning preclinical research, translational platforms, and clinical trial support. With over 1000 tumor organoid models and the largest commercially available PDX collection, our expertise spans in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico methods. We operate in multiple facilities across the US, Europe, and APAC, meeting the highest industry standards, including accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). To learn more, visit www.crownbio.com.
Adicon Holdings Limited (HKEX: 9860.HK) is one of China’s leading independent clinical laboratory service providers, offering comprehensive diagnostic testing services primarily to hospitals, health check centers and biopharmaceuticals through an integrated network of self-operated laboratories across the country. The company provides a broad testing portfolio covering routine and esoteric tests across multiple disease areas, supported by internationally accredited laboratories that meet ISO15189 standards. With a proven track record of operational excellence, national coverage, and strong quality assurance, Adicon has established itself as a trusted partner to healthcare institutions and professionals, contributing to the advancement of precision diagnostics and improved healthcare outcomes in China.
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