Axplora Expands ADC Production Capacity with New Payload Manufacturing Workshop

German contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Axplora has announced a significant expansion of its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) production capabilities at its Le Mans, France facility. The company has added a new payload manufacturing workshop, designed to accelerate ADC production timelines for its clients in the pharmaceutical industry.

New Payload Manufacturing Workshop

The newly installed workshop at the Le Mans site features three reactors, each capable of producing between 30 to 200 liters per manufacturing run. Axplora has also future-proofed the facility, leaving room for a potential fourth reactor to be added as demand increases.

This expansion is aimed at meeting the growing demand for next-generation payloads used in innovative oncology therapies. Payload manufacturing is a crucial step in the ADC production process, involving the creation of the drug-carrying component that is combined with a monoclonal antibody to target and destroy cancer cells.

Arul Ramadurai, Axplora's Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, "By combining state-of-the-art payload manufacturing with our proven expertise in purification and bioconjugation, we're enabling pharmaceutical innovators to accelerate drug development and deliver transformative treatments to patients faster."

Ongoing Expansion Efforts

The Le Mans upgrade is part of a broader expansion strategy for Axplora. In January, the company announced an 8 million euro (approximately $8.6 million) investment to enhance ADC payload manufacturing capacity at the same site. This earlier project added another production suite and increased Axplora's capability to produce various payloads at kilogram scale, while also creating at least 15 new jobs.

Furthermore, just three weeks prior to the Le Mans announcement, Axplora revealed a 50 million euro expansion at its Mourenx, France facility. This project, partially financed by an unnamed customer, aims to increase the company's overall peptide purification capabilities and support the development of new biologic therapies, including GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and obesity treatment.

About Axplora

Axplora, headquartered in Germany, was formed in 2022 through the merger of Novasep and PharmaZell, with the subsequent integration of generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) specialist Farmabios. The company currently operates nine API production facilities across Europe and India, positioning itself as a significant player in the pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to advance, particularly in the field of targeted therapies like ADCs, Axplora's strategic expansions demonstrate its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of drug developers and ultimately contributing to the acceleration of innovative treatments reaching patients.