Veranova DMF, CEP, Written Confirmations, FDF, Prices, Patents, Patents & Exclusivities, Dossier, Manufacturer, Licensing, Distributer, Suppliers, News, GMP

Veranova Expands Advisory Board with Appointment of Dr. Marvin H. Caruthers

23 Apr 2025

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Veranova Cambridge Hosts Second Science Day

25 Mar 2025

// PRESS RELEASE

Veranova Relocates Headquarters to Devens, MA

03 Mar 2025

// PRESS RELEASE

DATA COMPILATION
#PharmaFlow

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CPhI North America

Booth #536

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DIGITAL CONTENT

1 Interview #SpeakPharma, 24 Corporate Content #SupplierSpotlight, 3 Data Compilation #PharmaFlow, 202 News #PharmaBuzz

media
1 Interview #SpeakPharma
24 Corporate Content #SupplierSpotlight
3 Data Compilation #PharmaFlow
202 News #PharmaBuzz

ACTIVE PHARMA INGREDIENTS

82 All APIs, 48 USDMF, 25 CEP/COS, 5 JDMF, 28 KDMF, 44 NDC API, 50 Listed APIs

82 All APIs
48 USDMF
25 CEP/COS
5 JDMF
28 KDMF
44 NDC API
50 Listed APIs

DEVELOPMENTS

1 Drugs in Development

1 Drugs in Development

KEY PRODUCTS

Alfentanil Hydrochloride, Amphetamine, Amphetamine Aspartate, Apomorphine Hydrochloride, Buprenorphine, Buprenorphine Hydrochloride, Cocaine Hydrochloride, Codeine Sulfate, Diamorphine Hydrochloride, Fentanyl, Fentanyl Citrate, Fentanyl Hydrochloride, Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate, Methylphenidate, Methylphenidate Hydrochloride, Morphine Hydrochloride, Morphine Sulfate, Morphine Tartrate, Nabilone, Naloxone Hydrochloride, Opium, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, Oxycodone Terephthalate, Remifentanil, Sodium Oxybate, Sufentanil Citrate

SERVICES

Analytical, API Manufacturing, API & Drug Product Development

pharmaServices
Analytical
- 1 Analytical Method Development
API Manufacturing
API & Drug Product Development
- 3 API Development
- 6 Preformulation & Material Science

KEY SERVICES

ADC Contract Manufacturing, Highly Potent API Development Services, Controlled Substance API Manufacturing, CDMO for Controlled Substance APIs, Solid Form & Particle Engineering, CDMO for Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), API Process Development, Analytical Development

ADC Contract Manufacturing
Highly Potent API Development Services
Controlled Substance API Manufacturing
CDMO for Controlled Substance APIs
Solid Form & Particle Engineering
CDMO for Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
API Process Development
Analytical Development

INSPECTIONS & REGISTRATIONS

36 FDA, 6 EDQM, 3 GDUFA

inspections
36 FDA
6 EDQM
3 GDUFA

Veranova: A CDMO that manages complexity with confidence.

About

Veranova is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of specialist and complex APIs for pharma and biotech customers. We have over 50 years of experience navigating the challenges of the global healthcare industry, and nurturing long-standing, trusted customer relationships. Operating within two divisions, Generics and Originators, we deliver a differentiated service offering to pharma and biotech customers for every stage in the drug development lifecycle.
Macfarlan Smith Limited is trading as Veranova in the United Kingdom.

CPhI North America CPhI North America

Industry Trade Show

Booth #536

20-22 May, 2025

Pennsylvania Conv Center, Philadelphia
BOS BaselBOS Basel

Industry Trade Show

Exhibiting

11-12 June, 2025

Basel, Switzerland
ChemOutsourcingChemOutsourcing

Industry Trade Show

Attending

08-10 September, 2025

Parsippany NJ, Hilton

CONTACT DETAILS

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U.S.A

Address

435 Devon Park Drive, Suite 400, Wayne, PA. 19807

Telephone

+1 4845810160

info@veranova.com

Website

https://veranova.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/veranovalife/

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https://www.youtube.com/@veranova1745/videos

Digital content

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INTERVIEW #SpeakPharma

“We’re unlocking life-changing potential in complex molecules, without sacrificing time to market”

This week, SpeakPharma interviews Mike Riley, CEO of Veranova, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) confidently mastering complex APIs as it marks its second year as an independent company. Riley discusses Veranova’s key achievements, including a US$ 30 million investment in their Devens, Massachusetts (US) site to expand capabilities in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and highly potent APIs (HPAPIs), and how it is navigating the increasing complexity of molecules. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// Veranova’s key achievements / navigating the increasing complexity of molecules Veranova is celebrating its second year as a stand-alone company. Can you share Veranova’s key milestones and achievements in its first two years? We have achieved incredible milestones over the last two years, thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team. Our first 12 months focused on establishing ourselves as an independent CDMO by building on the 50 years of expertise that we brought with us. In addition, we expanded our capabilities and applied a more agile approach available to us as a company singularly focused on life sciences. This has allowed us to move into our second year with clear and strategic goals for generating growth in our sites, people, capabilities, and offerings. Since being appointed as CEO in May 2023, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing some exciting growth milestones of my own. Most recently, we announced an estimated US$ 30 million investment in our Devens, Massachusetts, site. This expansion will allow us to build upon existing development and manufacturing capabilities in ADCs and HPAPIs that will address the growing demand for strong US-based capacity in these key drug modalities. We also appointed our Advisory Board, thereby bolstering Veranova’s in-house expertise. Made up of four distinguished leaders in pharma and biopharma – including Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi, the 2022 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry – the Board has provided thought-leadership, guidance and expertise as we develop and execute our strategic growth and ideas. We were also proud to be recognized as one of the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates’ 12 companies for industry-leading safety programs in 2023 and as a part of the Medicine Maker’s Power List in 2024. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// US$ 30 million investment in our Devens, Massachusetts, site / appointed our Advisory Board Molecules are becoming increasingly complex. Can you elaborate on how Veranova’s current capabilities are strategically designed to address this trend in the coming years? The pharmaceutical pipeline is witnessing an increasing number of complex and highly potent molecules. This trend is driven by the demand for more targeted, patient-centric therapeutics and the focus on innovative modalities such as ADCs and other bioconjugates. At Veranova, our expertise, world-class facilities, and scientific excellence enable us to provide our customers with the clarity and solutions needed to manage this development and manufacturing complexity and ultimately deliver the required treatments to customers and patients. Our people are key to this approach. We have an expert team ready to collaborate with customers at any point, from early development through large-scale commercial production. Our services include world-leading crystallization development, process development, and specialized manufacturing expertise for complex synthetic molecules, including those requiring chromatography capabilities. In many cases, we can provide all these under one roof. Our service offering to our customers is also based on the foundational element of strong quality and compliance systems. We operate multiple facilities approved by the US FDA, UK’s MHRA and other regulatory authorities and are continually focused on ways to strengthen our global quality management system. Looking ahead, we are focused on continually investing in our facilities and team to meet growing complexity, as evidenced by our recent announcement of new investment in our Devens site. This investment signals our commitment to providing state-of-the-art capacity and capabilities to enable these next-generation therapies to reach patients. It is a key milestone as we advance Veranova’s broader growth strategy. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// provide our customers with clarity and solutions / world-leading crystallization development / expertise for complex synthetic molecules / strong quality and compliance systems How is Veranova approaching the challenge of designing and manufacturing effective linker molecules for ADCs? As a leader in complex linker-payload synthesis, Veranova is committed to unlocking the life-changing potential of ADCs without letting their complexities slow down the development of much-needed cancer therapies. ADCs are intricate, multi-component molecules that require extensive expertise and agile collaboration to overcome unique development challenges. With over a decade of experience in ADC linker-payload systems, we have developed the ability to anticipate challenges and avoid common pitfalls. The ADC linker-payload components are complex structures that are difficult to crystallize and require specialized high-potent handling. Veranova’s differentiated combination of world-leading crystallization development capabilities, complex synthesis experience, chromatography expertise and high-potent-handling experience put us in a unique position to solve these challenges for customers and speed their products to the clinic. We prioritize getting it right the first time, minimizing change orders and ensuring high-quality results. We have developed a robust phase-appropriate strategy that is backed by state-of-the-art analytical equipment and regulatory procedures to ensure our partners can rapidly progress their ADC projects from pre-clinical to commercialization. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// unlocking the life-changing potential of ADCs / ensuring our partners can rapidly progress their ADC projects Can you specify how Veranova is using artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize manufacturing processes that can reduce costs and environmental footprint as well as speed up development? In May 2024, Veranova announced a partnership with Phorum.AI to leverage AI to optimize pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. This collaboration aims to enable the rapid development of processes that can drive efficiency and reduce costs while maximizing environmental sustainability. Our goal is to combine Veranova’s extensive empirical manufacturing dataset of owned APIs and drug master files with Phorum.AI’s computational chemistry engine in order to create a more powerful process-development tool for the benefit of Veranova’s and Phorum’s customers. At Veranova, we are constantly looking to employ innovative technologies and approaches to improve efficiency, accelerate time to market and reduce environmental footprint. We have the means to work with a variety of partners who have unique project requirements, without sacrificing time to market. 🔑 HIGHLIGHTS// partnership with Phorum.AI / create a more powerful process-development tool / improve efficiency, accelerate time to market and reduce environmental footprint

Impressions: 2617

CORPORATE CONTENT #SupplierSpotlight

Product List 2025

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Corporate Presentation

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Veranova & Phorum.AI Partner to Boost Chemistry with AI

Physchem Services

Pharmorphix

Crystallization Services

Analytical Services

Pharmorphix Solid form and Particle Engineering

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JM Health rebrands as Veranova

GMP Certificate 2020

Corporate Video

cGMP Site Tour

Antibody Drug Conjugates

Crystallization Development

Mike Riley, CEO, Interview at CPhI WW 2023

Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction

Solid Form and Particle Engineering

Spray Drying

Analgesic APIs

Introducing Jet Milling

Introducing Physchem Suite

SCXRD Lab

Wet Milling

Johnson Matthey Health is now Veranova

DATA COMPILATION #PharmaFlow

CDMO Activity Tracker: Bora, PolPharma make acquisitions; Evonik, EUROAPI, Porton announce technological expansions

The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) space continued to grow at an impressive pace in the second half (H2) of 2024, with significant progress being made across cell and gene therapies (CGTs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), novel drug modalities, and digital solutions.Some of the key players in the CDMO space include Lonza, EUROAPI, Evonik, SEQENS, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Quotient Sciences, Axplora, PolPharma, and Famar from Europe; Mission CDMO, LGM Pharma, Veranova, and Thermo Fisher from the US; and Samsung Biologics, Bora Pharmaceuticals, and Porton Pharma Solutions from Asia. Texas-based Mission CDMO has been in the pharma industry for over 75 years. Today, it is known for its comprehensive contract services and high-quality manufacturing capabilities that have reinforced its position as a trusted partner. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available)Bora, PolPharma drive CDMO acquisitions; Samsung Biologics clocks over US$ 4 bn in contract valueThe second half of 2024 saw several high-value acquisitions and expansions that reshaped the CDMO landscape. South Korea-based Samsung Biologics clocked a cumulative contract value of over US$ 4 billion. It signed its largest manufacturing deal with an Asia-based pharmaceutical company, valued at US$ 1.24 billion. It also announced a series of manufacturing deals with a European drugmaker worth over US$ 668 million. Samsung Biologics is also building a dedicated ADC facility that is likely to be complete soon. Taiwan’s largest CDMO, Bora Pharmaceuticals, announced its second acquisition of the year. It bought New Jersey-based Pyros Pharmaceuticals, a developer of rare disease treatments. Pyros recently launched Vigafyde, the only ready-to-use vigabatrin oral solution and the first new product approved to treat infantile spasms in 15 years. Bora also announced a strategic investment in Tanvex Biopharma, thereby creating a global platform for biologics development and supply.PolPharma acquired Ziołolek, a renowned manufacturer of dermatological products, medical devices, and OTC medicines, thereby expanding its product portfolio. It also launched a state-of-the-art HPAPI (highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients) facility in Poland, which is being seen as another step towards securing Europe’s drug supply chain.In other developments, Avid Bioservices got acquired by funds managed by Ampersand and British healthcare investment firm GHO Capital Partners in an all-cash deal worth US$ 1.1 billion. And Agilent Technologies agreed to acquire Canadian specialty CDMO Biovectra for US$ 925 million, thereby enhancing its capabilities in gene-editing technologies and sterile fill-finish services. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available) Evonik, EUROAPI, Porton Pharma, GSK announce tieups, technological expansionsSeveral CDMOs announced new collaborations and acquired new capabilities to enhance their service offerings. Evonik expanded its formulation capabilities for lipid nanoparticles used for mRNA and gene therapies through a collaboration with KNAUER Wissenschaftliche Geräte. This partnership aims to expand Evonik’s portfolio of biosolutions.Evonik is also restructuring its keto and pharma amino acid business to focus on strategic core growth areas. Evonik launched Eudracap colon functional capsules for targeted delivery of oral drugs. These ready-to-fill capsules are designed to release their contents specifically in the colon, improving the efficacy of treatments for various gastrointestinal conditions. Evonik also opened a new facility for drying aqueous dispersions of Eudragit polymers in Darmstadt, Germany. This facility will enhance Evonik’s capabilities in producing high-quality polymers for pharmaceutical applications.EUROAPI launched a new AI-powered Electronic Batch Record solution in collaboration with Aizon to enhance manufacturing productivity. This collaboration aims to digitize operations towards more data-driven manufacturing, focusing on small-scale productions and highly flexible plants.Porton Pharma Solutions has expanded its reach through several strategic initiatives. In October, Porton entered into a partnership with Shanghai InnoStar to enhance its service offerings beyond small molecules, targeting peptides, oligonucleotide drugs, conjugated drugs, and advanced therapies. It continued to grow its capabilities by enhancing its GMP manufacturing capacity in Fengxian, Shanghai (China). The facility’s expansion is aimed at increasing the production of novel therapies, including peptides and oligonucleotide drugs. These moves are part of Porton’s broader strategy to position itself at the forefront of advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.Corden Pharma is investing € 900 million (US$ 985 million) over the next three years to expand its peptide platform facilities in Colorado (US) and Europe. While the US site will help meet the rising demand for GLP-1 peptides, in Europe, CordenPharma will construct a greenfield facility for small to large-scale peptide development and manufacturing.CDMO Touchlight signed a licensing agreement with GSK that grants the drug behemoth non-exclusive rights to use Touchlight’s proprietary enzymatic doggybone DNA (dbDNA) technology for the development and production of mRNA-based products, particularly vaccines. Curia also integrated enzymatic dbDNA solutions through a collaboration with Touchlight, enhancing mRNA production for vaccine and cancer therapies. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available) Lonza, Merck, Dr. Reddy’s owned Aurigene invest in cell and gene therapiesThe CGT space continued to draw both deals and investments. Lonza and Vertex signed a long-term commercial supply agreement for Casgevy, the world’s first CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited cell therapy, to treat sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. This agreement includes manufacturing at Lonza’s Geleen (the Netherlands) cell therapy manufacturing facility, with plans to expand to Portsmouth, New Hampshire (US).Miltenyi Biotec began manufacturing lentiviral vectors for Adaptimmune’s Tecelra, the first engineered TCR T-cell therapy for the rare soft tissue cancer synovial sarcoma approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.Merck KGaA commenced commercial production at its first GMP-compliant manufacturing line for cell culture media (CCM) in China. This facility addresses the growing local demand for quality custom CCM used in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and novel therapeutics.Aurigene and Edity Therapeutics announced a strategic collaboration in cell therapy, with Aurigene providing cell therapy discovery services to support Edity’s clinical development. Additionally, Aurigene and its parent, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kainomyx for the development and commercialization of an affordable anti-malarial drug. ProBio and UCI Therapeutics signed an MoU for a comprehensive collaboration in gene delivery technologies, including viral and non-viral approaches. Additionally, Korea’s VaxCell-Bio partnered with ProBio to accelerate the development of its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-related therapies.The ADC market continued to be a hotbed of innovation and strategic expansion. Merck KGaA invested € 70 million (US$ 75 million) to triple its ADC manufacturing capacity at its Missouri (US) facility, aiming to support the rising demand for oncology therapies.Sterling Pharma entered into a partnership with GlycoNex to support the clinical trials of their ADCs that target solid tumors. And, NJ Bio and Charles River Laboratories also announced a collaboration to optimize ADC manufacturing.The adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector field also saw activity with Rentschler Biopharma and Forge Biologics announcing the launch of a new service offering and a manufacturing platform, respectively. Similarly, Andelyn Biosciences was selected by Hubble Therapeutics to manufacture clinical grade AAV.Meanwhile, Lonza has gone in for a restructuring exercise in order to become a “pure-play CDMO”. It has exited its capsules and health ingredients business, and adopted a new organizational structure. The Swiss CDMO has also extended a collaboration with a major global biopharmaceutical partner for commercial-scale manufacture of ADCs. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H2 2024 (Free Excel Available) Our viewAs pharmaceutical development becomes increasingly complex, CDMOs are no longer just manufacturing partners, but critical innovation hubs. Little wonder then that 2024’s biggest pharma deal was in the CDMO space – Novo Holdings’ US$ 16.5 billion buyout of Catalent. This trend should gather momentum. We expect more M&A activity in this space in 2025.

Impressions: 3070

Chinese FDA-registered generic facilities gain steam, India maintains lead with 396 facilities

Every year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes the user fee amounts it will collect from manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, generic drugs, biosimilars and medical devices in the coming financial year. The fee for fiscal year 2025 under the Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) was published on July 31, 2024.The GDUFA, established in 2012, authorizes FDA to assess and collect fees from drug manufacturers to expedite the delivery of safe, high-quality, and affordable generic drugs to the American public.The FDA’s facility payments list under GDUFA reveals that as of November 14, 2024, 1,397 facilities had paid their registration fees for financial year 2025. Of these facilities, 707 or 50.6 percent are active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) facilities, 405 or 29 percent are finished dosage forms (FDF) facilities, 69 (4.9 percent) are facilities that produce both APIs and FDFs, and 216 (15.5 percent) are contract manufacturing services (CMO) sites.Teva Pharmaceuticals, with 29 facility registrations, led the list of companies, followed by Aurobindo Pharma, Sun Pharma, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. Fiscal year Facility Registrations 2016 1,425 2017 1,442 2018 1,269 2019 1,286 2020 1,300 2021 1,340 2022 1,385 2023 1,394 2024 1,447 2025 1,397 Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available)India continues to lead with 396 facilities, US and China follow India maintains its dominance in total facility registrations with the FDA, registering 396 facilities for FY2025. This includes 214 API facilities, 135 FDF facilities, 21 facilities engaged in both API and FDF activities, and 26 CMO facilities.The United States holds the second position with 328 facilities, while China strengthened its third position with 197 facilities.With 214 API facilities, India continues to have the largest share of API manufacturing sites, outmatching the combined total of China (128) and the US (83), which together account for 211 facilities. Among European manufacturers, Italy leads with 59 API manufacturing sites, followed by Spain (30) and Germany (25).The US has maintained its lead in FDF facilities with 143 sites, followed closely by India with 135 sites and China with 45 sites. Country API FDF Both CMO Total India 214 135 21 26 396 US 83 143 13 89 328 China 128 45 12 12 197 Italy 59 3 2 19 83 Germany 25 4 1 15 45 Spain 30 9 1 4 44 Canada 7 17 13 37 Taiwan 9 6 5 4 24 Switzerland 15 4 4 23 France 16 6 22 Japan 18 1 19 United Kingdom 12 1 2 15 Mexico 9 1 1 11 Ireland 5 5 1 11 Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) GDUFA III user fee rates increase across categories for FY25The GDUFA, which was reauthorized on September 30, 2022 (as GDUFA III), continues with provisions that will last until September 30, 2027. In July 2024, the FDA published updated user fee rates for FY2025.The facility fees have seen increases across all categories. API facility fees increased by 3 percent for domestic sites (to US$ 41,580) and 2 percent for foreign sites (to US$ 56,580). FDF facility fees rose by 5 percent for both domestic (to US$ 231,952) and foreign sites (to US$ 246,952). CMO facility fees increased by 5 percent for domestic sites (to US$ 55,668) and 4 percent for foreign sites (to US$ 70,668).Additionally, the fee for large-, medium- and small-sized drug applicants has increased by over 9 percent, compared to the 7 percent increase seen in 2023. Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) China leads new facility registrations as FDA records 41 new units in FY25Out of the total 1,397 facilities registered for FY2025, 41 were new registrations (going by Facility FDA Establishment Identifier numbers). China led the way with 13 new facilities, followed closely by India with 11 new facilities, while the US secured the third position with eight new facilities.The new registrations included 15 API facilities, 13 CMO facilities, 12 FDF facilities, and one facility engaged in both API and FDF activities. Chinese companies dominated the new FDF registrations with six facilities: Chengdu Shuode Pharma, Chengdu Suncadia Medicine, Cipla (Jiangsu), GE Healthcare (Shanghai), Luoxin Aurovitas Pharma (Chengdu), and Zhejiang Xianju Pharma.India added two new FDF facilities through Eugia Steriles and Zydus Pharma. Malaysia registered two FDF facilities through Novugen Pharma and Novugen Oncology, while Turkey’s Insud Pharma subsidiary Exeltis and US’ RK Pharma registered one FDF facility each.The 13 new CMO facilities included, Acme Generics, Emcure, Esjay Pharma, Fordoz Pharma, Fourrts Laboratories, Laboratoires KABS, PharmaMax, Quality Packaging Specialists International, Ritsa Pharma, Shanghai Aucyun Pharma, Sichuan Huiyu Pharma, Taejoon Pharm, and Tubilux Pharma.In the API category, the 15 new registrations included Acharya Chemicals, Hainan Poly Pharma, CBL Patras, EUROAPI, Hybio Pharma, Medilux Laboratories, Metrochem API, Purolite, Chengdu Easton Biopharma, Sionc Pharma, Smithfield Bioscience, Xttrium Laboratories, Zhejiang Hengkang Pharma, Moehs Iberica and Shilpa Pharma. Armstrong Pharmaceuticals registered the sole facility for both APIs and FDFs.So far, 92 facilities have not renewed their registration. Among these was a facility owned by Sandoz subsidiary Eon Labs in Wilson, North Carolina (US), which is permanently closed. In fact, the geographical distribution of non-renewals shows that 30 facilities were from the US, while India and China accounted for 14 and nine non-renewals respectively. Generic Drug Facilities Registered with the US FDA for FY2025 (Free Excel Available) Our viewThe FY 2025 GDUFA facility registration data indicates a continued strong presence of Indian manufacturers in the US generic drug market, particularly in API production. However, China's leadership in new facility registrations, especially in FDF manufacturing, suggests that the global generic drug supply chain landscape may evolve considerably in the coming years.

Impressions: 13461

CDMO Activity Tracker: Novo’s parent buys Catalent for US$ 16.5 bn; Fujifilm, Merck KGaA, Axplora expand capabilities

During the first half (H1) of 2024, the global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) landscape was driven by the escalating demand for complex drug development and manufacturing.With the industry grappling with constantly evolving therapeutic modalities, CDMOs are racing to invest in cutting-edge technologies and infrastructure to meet the growing needs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies.Some of the key players in the CDMO space are Catalent, EUROAPI, Lonza, Axplora, Thermo Fisher, SEQENS, Samsung Biologics, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Quotient Sciences, Famar, LGM Pharma, Veranova, and Evonik. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available)Novo’s parent buys Catalent for US$ 16.5 bn; Bora, Lonza, Siegfried expand US footprintDuring H1 2024, several European and Asian drugmakers expanded their footprints in the US. In February, Novo Nordisk’s parent company, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, announced the acquisition of Catalent through its investment arm Novo Holdings for US$ 16.5 billion. Novo Holdings plans to sell three of Catalent’s “fill-finish” sites to Novo Nordisk for US$ 11 billion. The deal is expected to allow the Danish drugmaker “to serve significantly more people living with diabetes and obesity,” a company statement said.Taiwan-headquartered Bora Pharmaceuticals forged ahead with its expansion plans in the US market by acquiring Minnesota-based generics manufacturer Upsher-Smith Laboratories. Emergent BioSolutions said it is selling its Maryland facility to an affiliate of Bora. This site in Camden is part of its CDMO, Emergent Bioservices, and offers clinical and commercial non-viral aseptic fill/finish services on four fill lines, including lyophilization, formulation development, and support services.Swiss drugmaker Lonza has agreed to acquire Genentech’s manufacturing facility in California, US, from Roche for US$ 1.2 billion in cash. The site, located in the city of Vacaville, is one of the largest biologics manufacturing facilities in the world by volume.Lonza also launched an artificial intelligence-driven route design technology for choosing the optimal synthetic pathway to manufacture novel APIs.Switzerland’s Siegfried is acquiring a Wisconsin (US)-based CDMO that specializes in early-phase development and manufacturing services from Curia Global to strengthen its capabilities in North America. Siegfried will further develop the site into its North American Siegfried Acceleration Hub for early-phase CDMO services. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available) Merck Millipore, SK Bioscience lead CGT boom; Fujifilm, Axplora, expand CDMO capabilitiesThe burgeoning field of cell and gene therapies (CGTs) is driving significant investments in CDMOs. CGTs saw considerable deal-making too. Merck KGaA agreed to buy Wisconsin-based Mirus Bio for US$ 600 million. Mirus Bio is a specialist in the development and commercialization of transfection reagents that are used to help introduce genetic material into cells. These reagents play a key role in the production of viral vectors for CGTs.Similarly, South Korea’s SK Bioscience acquired a 60 percent stake in IDT Biologika GmbH for KRW 339 billion (US$ 244 million). IDT Biologika is a 104-year-old German company that ranks among the top 10 vaccine producers in the world.CDMOs are also expanding their capabilities in order to lead innovation for their pharmaceutical partners. Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies is investing US$ 1.2 billion in its large-scale cell culture CDMO business to further expand its end-to-end bio-manufacturing facility in North Carolina, bringing the total investment in the facility to over US$ 3.2 billion. Similarly, Merck KGaA owned MilliporeSigma made its biggest investment in the Asia-Pacific region in March when it invested € 300 million (US$ 327 million) in a new bioprocessing production center in Daejeon, South Korea.German CDMO giant Axplora is investing € 8 million (US$ 8.73 million) to expand capacity for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) payload manufacturing at its Le Mans site in France. Catalent completed upgrades to its capsule filling capabilities of dry powders for inhalation to handle potent drugs at its Boston facility. This now positions Catalent as the CDMO with the largest GMP capacity for capsule spray-dried and carrier-based inhaled powders.LGM Pharma increased its Analytical Testing Services (ATS) by 50 percent with a US$ 2 million investment and introduced new suppository manufacturing capabilities to its CDMO portfolio. Minakem has invested in a new production unit in Montreal, Canada, for steroid APIs. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available) EUROAPI kicks off four-year sweeping plan; LegoChem partners Samsung Biologics for ADC programSanofi’s spinoff EUROAPI marked 2024 as a “transition year”, setting in motion its Focus-27 plan for profitable growth in the future. The sweeping four-year plan includes a streamlined value-added portfolio focused on highly differentiated and profitable APIs, and a CDMO focused on late-stage and high-value complex small molecules and tides supported by unique technological platforms. The leading French small molecules player signed a five-year collaboration with Ireland’s Priothera wherein EUROAPI will develop and industrialize the manufacturing process of an innovative, complex molecule for blood cancers – mocravimod. The project will be carried out at EUROAPI’s site in Budapest, which is its center of excellence for complex chemistry.South Korea’s CDMO powerhouse Samsung Biologics has partnered LegoChem Biosciences and will provide antibody development and drug substance manufacturing services as a part of LegoChem’s ADC program designed to treat solid tumors. LegoChem aims to submit an investigational new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first half of 2025. Aurigene and Vipergen have joined forces to offer DNA-encoded library (DEL) screening for drug discovery. By combining Aurigene’s drug discovery capabilities with Vipergen’s DEL screening technologies, they seek to create a powerful tool that can quickly test over a billion small-molecule compounds against different disease targets. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories’ company Aurigene also inaugurated its biologics facility spread across 70,000 square feet.Chinese biotech startup Pleryon is collaborating with France’s SEQENS, a leader in specialty ingredients, to develop and manufacture the former’s lead candidate, an innovative polymer to treat osteoarthritis. Famar is collaborating with Lavipharm and will serve as the contract manufacturer for the latter’s recently added analgesic pharmaceutical products — Lonarid N and Lonalgal. View CDMO Activity Tracker for H1 2024 (Free Excel Available) Our view Key trends observed in H1 2024 include a surge in investments for fill-finish facilities, a growing emphasis on cell and gene therapies, and advancements in ADC manufacturing. With the proliferation of these new classes of drugs, the CDMO space has been rapidly changing in recent years. In the future, the integration of digital technologies, such as AI and automation, will be a key differentiator for CDMOs looking to optimize their operations and accelerate drug development timelines.

Impressions: 3744