Novonesis takes full control of MicroBioGen to drive yeast innovation

By Vivian Lin · October 3, 2026, 10:13 PM · 3 mins read

Novonesis has closed its purchase of MicroBioGen, bringing the Australian biotech’s yeast-breeding platform in house to speed up biosolutions for several industries.

Novonesis now owns MicroBioGen outright. The company finished the buyout after getting the green light from regulators. This ends a partnership that started ten years ago. Novonesis is pulling all of MicroBioGen’s yeast-breeding work into its own labs.

This is not a new alliance. Novonesis first bought into MicroBioGen in 2013, taking a 23% stake. Now it has bought the rest. Novonesis says full ownership will help it move faster on biosolutions for bioethanol and other markets.

The acquisition was finalized after Novonesis secured all necessary regulatory approvals, including clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Bringing yeast expertise together

CEO Ester Baiget called the deal a key move for Novonesis’s 2030 plan. She pointed to the value of adding MicroBioGen’s research and yeast know-how. “We are pleased to welcome our new colleagues to Novonesis and bring these capabilities into our company, where we can unlock its broader potential. The acquisition reflects our disciplined approach to investing for growth,” Baiget said.

Chief Scientific Officer Claus Crone Fuglsang said MicroBioGen’s technology could open new doors. He sees uses not just in bioethanol but in other fields where Novonesis works. The company’s fermentation and microbiology lineup gets a clear boost. Stronger yeast strains and more uses are now on the table.

Industry reports confirm that Novonesis completed the purchase of the remaining 77% of MicroBioGen shares, bringing its ownership to 100%. This full acquisition grants Novonesis complete access to MicroBioGen’s proprietary yeast technology and research expertise, further strengthening its position in the global biosolutions market.

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What’s next for partners and growth

Novonesis says it will keep backing MicroBioGen’s current partners. Ongoing projects will continue. The company wants the transition to run smoothly as teams join up. This approach stands apart from the recent Zymeworks deal, which was about adding new products, not deepening core technology.

By taking in MicroBioGen’s yeast-breeding platform, Novonesis is betting on the long-term value of owning its own microbial tools. This is not a move for headlines. It is about building a base for steady biosolutions work. Novonesis wants to deliver better fermentation tech and show it is serious about industrial R&D. In this field, even small gains in microbe performance can mean big business. Novonesis has made its choice. It wants to own the tools and shape what comes next.

An official press release says the deal will help Novonesis use yeast innovation not just in bioethanol but in other industries where it operates.

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Vivian Lin

Vivian Lin is Biotech Markets & Transactions Editor at GenoMethods, covering licensing agreements, M&A, biotech financing, company pipelines, strategic partnerships and cross-border transactions. Her reporting connects deal structure and company strategy with the scientific and clinical evidence underlying each biotechnology asset.