KKR & Co. is reportedly considering selling its 17% stake in Swedish life sciences firm Biotage AB. This potential move comes as Biotage's shares have surged 36% this year, valuing the company at approximately $1.4 billion. KKR holds its stake through Gamma Biosciences, a platform established in 2020 for investments in life sciences tools.

The deliberations are still in early stages, and no final decision has been made. Both KKR and Biotage have not commented on the matter. Biotage, which specializes in genetic analysis and medicinal chemistry technologies, has been exploring interest from potential buyers, but no deals have materialized yet.

This potential sale aligns with a broader trend of private equity firms looking to exit healthcare assets. For instance, CVC Capital Partners is exploring options for its stake in Italian drugmaker Recordati SpA, and EQT AB is considering selling Karo Healthcare, which could be valued at over €2 billion ($2.2 billion).

Biotage employs 700 people and serves over 80 countries. The company's market performance and strategic moves reflect the increasing activity in the healthcare sector, driven by private equity interests.