Recent developments
CDMO footprint shifts
WuXi Biologics continues portfolio changes and sells its Leverkusen plant to Terumo. Terumo completes the acquisition, adding European fill‑finish and expanding lines in Japan. A transatlantic network emerges as BBG Advanced Therapies and CELLforCURE link U.S. and EU ATMP manufacturing for scalable supply.
Localization and scale
Big Pharma expands capacity: Merck begins a $3B facility in Virginia within a broader U.S. manufacturing program for vaccines and biologics. These moves may rebalance sourcing between captive sites and CDMOs, impacting fill‑finish and biologics capacity planning across the U.S.
Modalities and delivery
Evonik launches EUDRACAP colon functional capsules for ileo‑colonic targeting. It also partners with Ethris on an LNP platform and introduces MaxiPure Polysorbate 80 for protein stability. Nucleic acid supply chains broaden as Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and Cirena plan long‑chain RNA distribution in Japan.
Flow and process intensification
Catalysis tailored to continuous manufacturing progresses with Evonik’s Noblyst F catalyst portfolio for flow applications, reflecting ongoing adoption of continuous processing in pharma and fine chemicals, with options for varied support types and particle sizes for scalable, selective transformations.
Quality, scale, and ESG
Compliance and execution remain central: WuXi Biologics gains TITCK GMP certifications for three sites; recognition includes Hang Seng sustainability index inclusion, a third MSCI AAA ESG rating, and Frost & Sullivan’s customer value award, alongside inspection pass rates and faster IND timelines.
Market conditions
Broader chemicals show softness: WACKER’s Q2 results cite weaker volumes, FX, and lower utilization, while maintaining investment in select capacity. For CDMOs, cautious demand in adjacent materials contrasts with steady investment in biologics, ATMPs, and enabling delivery technologies.