NEWS
Lonza expands twice
Lonza has extended two ongoing collaborations with unnamed major biopharmaceutical companies . One covers the commercial-scale filling of antibody-drug conjugates ( ADCs ), the other bioconjugation . Financial details were not disclosed in either case .
As part of the former partnership , Lonza will build a dedicated line at its site in Stein , Switzerland , for the aseptic filling of highly potent ADCs and lyophilisation under containment . The latter will see bioconjugation capacity increased fourfold by adding two suites for the commercial supply of ADCs over 1,500 m 2 of space at the Ibex Dedicate Biopark at Lonza ’ s main site in Visp . This will support the highly automated , highthroughput containment of highly potent drug linkers and bioconjugate .
This is all part of Lonza ’ s growth in drug product ( DP ) services , which saw the groundbreaking of its first largescale , commercial DP manufacturing facility at Stein in January . The investment of about $ 550 million will enable it to provide an end-to-end offering across the entire drug product lifecycle , including commercial supply .
‘ Ibex Dedicate Biopark is at Lonza ’ s main site in Visp
At Ibex Biopark , meanwhile , the company completed a 1,200 m 2 , cGMP clinical and commercial DP manufacturing line in March and shipped the first batches in April . This includes a liquid and lyophilised vial filling isolator line for multiple modalities that fulfils the GMP Annex 1 requirement for the manufacture of sterile products .
Long-term contracts and a broad portfolio of high value offerings to meet complex needs like those it has just announced are fundamental to the company strategy . At its Capital Markets Day on 17 October , Lonza announced five strategic priorities support its “ ongoing commitment to sustainable value creation ”:
• Continuous innovation to anticipate future customer needs
• Collaboration built on early customer partnerships and customised solutions
• Industry-leading service delivery , with a consistent focus on quality
• Operational excellence and a culture of continuous improvement
• A disciplined capital allocation strategy
Lonza ’ s guidance for 2028 , includes an 11 – 13 % CAGR in sales , a 32 – 34 % core EBITDA margin and double-digit return on capital invested . The Biologics division “ remains a major growth driver , focused on delivering a complete and integrated fulllifecycle CDMO offering ”, while Small Molecules “ continues to capture value in an attractive market , supported by an expanding highly potent API offering , and ramping up capacity for ADC payload and linker production ”.
However , Lonza continues to experience trouble at the top , with the departure of CEO Pierre-Alain Ruffieux “ by mutual agreement ” at the end of September . Chairman Albert Baehny is acting as interim CEO for the second time , having previously taken the helm in 2020 when former COO Marc Funk left after only nine months in the job .
6 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981