Solabia Divests Diagnostics, Bets Fully on Cosmetic Actives

Solabia will sell its microbiology diagnostics division and concentrate entirely on cosmetics, nutrition and life sciences — the core of a strategic repositioning announced by its private equity owner Astorg. The French active-ingredient supplier named Muriel Koch, until recently CEO of Groupe NUXE, as President and CEO to run the slimmed-down group.

Under the proposed transaction, Oxoid Remel Microbiology — an Astorg portfolio company acquired in August 2026 — would take over the diagnostics unit. Astorg says the combination pairs complementary microbiology diagnostics capabilities and gives the business a platform for international expansion.

For dermatology-focused formulators and brands, the deal signals where Solabia's R&D euros will go: natural and biotech active ingredients for skin care, backed by nutrition and life-sciences pipelines.

Who is Muriel Koch?

Koch brings more than thirty years of leadership across cosmetics, nutrition and consumer markets. She spent over twenty years at Nestlé in senior roles across Europe and Asia, then led Groupe NUXE as CEO, where she drove the French skin-care group's international expansion and modernisation.

She succeeds Jean-Baptiste Dellon, who ran Solabia for the past four and a half years. Koch will work with Solabia's Executive Committee and Astorg to deliver the group's growth ambitions.

"I am excited to join Solabia at this important stage in its development as the Group sharpens its focus on cosmetics, nutrition, and life sciences," Koch said. "Having spent my career across these markets, I see significant opportunities to build on Solabia's strong foundations and realize our ambition of becoming the global reference in natural and biotech active ingredients."

She added that she plans to work with the Executive Committee, Astorg and Solabia's teams "to accelerate innovation, strengthen our customer partnerships, and expand our international presence."

What does the divestment change?

The exit from microbiology diagnostics removes a non-core unit and frees management attention and capital for the ingredient business. Solabia's stated ambition is to become the global reference in natural and biotech active ingredients — a claim brands sourcing actives will judge against clinical and in-vitro evidence, not positioning language.

Nicolas Marien, Partner, and Paul Arhanchiague, Managing Director at Astorg, framed the move as a sharpening of focus.

"This strategic repositioning marks an exciting new chapter for Solabia, building on its strong foundations and established international presence," they said. "The planned divestment of its microbiology diagnostics division will allow the Group to sharpen its focus and pursue new opportunities for growth."

The Astorg executives also credited Dellon for "the significant contribution he has made to Solabia's development" and said they look forward to working with Koch and the wider management team.

Dellon, for his part, pointed to what the company built on his watch. "I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved together at Solabia over the past four and a half years, and grateful to our colleagues, customers, and partners for their contributions throughout this journey," he said. "With its clear strategic focus, strong foundations, and talented team, I am confident that Solabia is well-positioned for continued success under Muriel's leadership."

What comes next?

The diagnostics sale to Oxoid Remel Microbiology remains a proposed transaction, so closing terms and timing are still ahead. Once complete, Solabia's development agenda under Koch centers on three levers she named herself: faster innovation, deeper customer partnerships and broader international reach.