Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) announced today that Danaher has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Aldevron, for a cash purchase price of approximately $9.6 billion. Danaher expects to finance the acquisition using cash on hand and/or proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper. View Danaher's full press release on their website.

Aruvant Sciences, a private company focused on developing gene therapies for rare diseases, and Aldevron, the leading provider of high-quality plasmid DNA, mRNA and recombinant proteins necessary for vaccines, gene and cell therapy, gene editing and diagnostic applications, announced today that Aldevron will support the development of ARU-1801, Aruvant’s one-time investigational gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD), and ARU-2801, a one-time investigational gene therapy for hypophosphatasia (HPP). Aldevron will provide good manufacturing practice (GMP)-grade plasmid for Aruvant’s upcoming ARU-1801 pivotal trial.