SEP / OCT 2026
Seqens concludes financial restructuring deal
French CDMO Seqens has reached an agreement in principle with all of its key stakeholders on the main terms of a comprehensive financial restructuring. This should be completed by the end of 2026, subject to the required procedural and legal approvals being received. No changes are envisaged that would impact employees.
CEO Pascal Villemagne said:“ This agreement in principle marks a decisive step forward for Seqens. It provides the group with a significantly stronger capital structure and the means to accelerate the execution of its strategic plan.”
Upon completion, the senior lenders will become the new shareholders, with Bpifrance keeping a minority
Villemagne- Agreement gives Seqens a stronger structure
stake. The company said that this“ strengthened financial position and new shareholding” will afford it“ improved flexibility and foundation to execute its strategic plan, continue investing in its industrial footprint, support innovation and maintain the highest standards of quality, reliability and customer service”.
Capra in second critical API deal
Capra Biosciences, a Virginia-based specialist in modular, continuous bioreactor technology for APIs, has agreed a second investment from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response( ASPR) of the US Department of Health & Human Services. This is part of a general drive to onshore production of critical APIs that are currently sourced almost exclusively overseas
The $ 9.5 million agreement follows an initial $ 7.5 million ASPR award in July 2024, from which Capra built an AI-enabled pipeline for rapid development and scaling of biological ingredients. It has since validated production of aspirin and acetaminophen in its bioreactors.
Capra will now apply the rapid development and scale-up capabilities it developed with Google X ' s A-Life team and Next Rung Technology to more critical pharmaceutical ingredients. This brings the total number of API targets for domestic production to seven.
The company will also work with the US Pharmacopeia( USP) to advance five of them to population-scale, commercially mature manufacturing. The USP’ s Pharmatech subsidiary will supply the requisite CMC services.
IN BRIEF
MFG buys AP Tech
MFG Chemical has acquired AP Tech, a pioneer in the field of solid water treatment chemistry products that was founded in 1974 and is based in West Chester, Ohio. Terms were not disclosed. This follows MFG’ s earlier acquisitions of Radical Polymers and Masters Chemical and further widens its range of proprietary products for water treatment. Further strategic acquisitions may follow, CEO Paul Turgeon confirmed.
Work begins at Cambrex
Cambrex has begun construction on a new R & D facility at its Cambrex Profarmico site in Milan. The $ 30 million investment will add advanced analytical development and process R & D capabilities, plus upgrades to multiple production plants. This is due to be completed in 2H 2027. The company has also acquired additional land adjacent to the site for potential future additions.
Bachem peptide investments
Bachem is to invest over CHF 500 million in large-scale peptide manufacturing at a greenfield site in Sisserfeld, Switzerland. This is part of a programme to expand capacity across its network, including high-volume peptides and oligonucleotides facilities. A strategic collaboration includes pre-payments and long-term commitments from undisclosed collaboration partners. Commercial production should start in 2030.
SEP / OCT 2026 SPECCHEMONLINE. COM
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