Swiss CDMO Carbogen AMCIS Expands ADC Production Capabilities with $31M Investment

In a significant move to meet the growing demand for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Swiss contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Carbogen AMCIS has announced a substantial investment to enhance its production capabilities. The company, along with an unnamed Japanese partner, will invest 25.5 million Swiss francs ($31 million) to upgrade two of its domestic facilities for the commercial production of ADC linkers.

Expansion Details

The investment will focus on outfitting Carbogen's facilities in Aarau and Neuland, Switzerland. The Aarau site is slated to be ready for ADC production by the first quarter of 2027, while the Neuland plant is expected to complete its upgrade by the third quarter of the same year. Both facilities will be equipped with 850-liter reactors and agitated filter dryers as part of the expansion.

Carl Baker, Carbogen's drug substance business unit vice president, emphasized the strategic importance of this move, stating, "By investing in both Aarau and Neuland, we're ensuring that our infrastructure keeps pace with our customers' ambitions."

Industry Context

This expansion is part of a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry, with several companies investing heavily in ADC production capabilities. ADCs are targeted cancer treatments that have seen a surge in demand in recent years.

Carbogen's investment builds upon a previous upgrade at its Bubendorf headquarters, announced four years ago, which was also focused on manufacturing ADC linkers. The company, with a 35-year history in the industry, operates facilities across multiple countries, including France, the UK, the Netherlands, and China.

Market Dynamics

The ADC market has attracted significant attention from both drugmakers and contract manufacturers. In late 2024, another Swiss CDMO, Lonza, announced a similar investment to enhance its ADC production capabilities at its Visp site. Lonza's expansion includes the addition of two manufacturing suites and the creation of 200 new jobs.

Major pharmaceutical companies are also making substantial investments in this space. AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, partners on the ADC drug Enhertu, have each announced investments of $1.5 billion and $1 billion, respectively, to build dedicated ADC manufacturing facilities. AstraZeneca's facility will be located in Singapore, while Daiichi Sankyo's new site will be in Germany.

These developments underscore the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to expanding ADC production capacity, reflecting the growing importance of these targeted therapies in cancer treatment.