You have recently announced a significant investment in expanding your capabilities…
Yes, we announced a €900 million investment—part in the US at our Colorado site and part in Europe. We have now confirmed that the European site will be in Switzerland. We selected this location because of its excellent infrastructure for complex manufacturing and access to a highly educated workforce, which is essential for efficiently producing these sophisticated molecules.
The manufacturing of peptides is highly complex, requiring expertise and precision. Our decision to invest in Switzerland ensures we have the right people and facilities to meet this demand, positioning us strongly within the peptide manufacturing space.
Why did you opt for expanding specifically into the peptide space?
The peptide space is currently experiencing an explosion in demand, primarily driven by innovative molecules aimed at treating diabetes and obesity. These peptides are complex to manufacture, and there is a clear shortage of manufacturing capacity globally.
CDMOs like us play a critical role in helping pharmaceutical companies bring these new peptide-based medicines to market. Our investment is a direct response to the growing need for high-quality, scalable peptide production capabilities.
Given the growing competition in peptide manufacturing, what differentiates CordenPharma’s approach as a CDMO?
It is true the competition is increasing, but we have already demonstrated our capability by successfully manufacturing some of the peptides currently on the market. We have the know-how and technology to rapidly scale up production of these complex molecules, which is why companies choose to partner with us. Further, we are uniquely positioned to offer integrated supply solutions, from peptide-based Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to finished dosage forms like oral solids and injectables. This end-to-end capability is rare in the industry. We are currently the only peptide manufacturer able to provide this full spectrum of services, which is a significant differentiator for us and a major advantage for our customers.
Our experience in scaling up these processes brings significant value as well, particularly in peptide manufacturing, where not many others have demonstrated success at the same scale.
Is peptide manufacturing to be your sole focus in the coming years, or are you investing in other areas as well?
While peptides are a major focus, we continue to invest significantly across all six of our technology platforms. For example, we are expanding our injectable capabilities for filling APIs into vials, syringes, and auto-injectors and enhancing our specialized lipids and Lipid NanoParticle (LNP) services with sustainable, innovative technologies such as Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC), and Flow Chemistry continuous manufacturing.
Additionally, we are investing in clinical to commercial oral solid dosage drug product manufacturing, including oral peptide delivery, and we see strong demand in oligonucleotides, particularly for next-generation RNA therapeutics. All of these platforms are strategic areas where we are actively allocating capital.
How is CordenPharma preparing for potential supply chain disruptions, given current global uncertainties?
We have strategically built our manufacturing network to serve both the US and European markets. With large-scale peptide sites in Colorado and Europe for example, we have built-in redundancy through multiple drug substance sites that can respond flexibly to regional and global needs, which is particularly important as discussions around trade barriers and regionalization continue.
However, it is important to understand that in pharma, shifting production is not simple due to regulatory constraints. Changes require time and approvals, making the industry somewhat insulated from abrupt shocks—but we remain dependent on raw materials, particularly from China, for API production.
What investments are you making in automation and digitization to improve efficiency and reduce costs?
We are actively investing in automation and digitization, especially in Switzerland and Colorado. This includes modernizing operations, transitioning to electronic batch records, and simplifying workflows. We are also developing greener processes, reducing solvent use and recycling reagents to minimize waste.
This is particularly impactful in peptide manufacturing, where solvent use is high. Reducing waste streams significantly cuts costs, though changes must be coordinated with customers due to regulatory requirements.
Finally, where do you see CordenPharma in the coming years?
I tell my team we aim to be among the top five CDMOs globally. Specifically, we will be the leading fully-integrated peptide manufacturer, with a heavy priority placed on Sustainability and our commitment to carbon reduction as a responsible member of the global community.
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