The latest from CDMOs, CMOs, and suppliers featuring Lotte Biologics, PCI Pharma Services/Ajinomoto Althea, Roquette/IFF Pharma Solutions, Suanfarma, and Olon.   

Biologics Manufacturing 
* Lotte Biologics Begins Ops at ADC Facility 
Formulation Development/Drug Product Manufacturing 
* PCI Pharma Completes Acquisition of Fill-Finish CDMO Ajinomoto Althea  
* Roquette Completes Acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions 
General 
* Suanfarma Names New CEO 
* Olon Makes Leadership Appointments 

---

Biologics Manufacturing 

Lotte Biologics Begins Ops at ADC Facility 
Lotte Biologics, a CDMO of biologics, has signed a manufacturing agreement with an Asia-based biotech company for the production of a clinical-stage antibody drug conjuage (ADC) candidate. The contract marks the first step in the full-scale operation of the ADC manufacturing facility at the company’s biomanufacturing site in Syracuse, New York, which has been under expansion since 2023. With the site operational, the company is launching its ADC CDMO services. 

The facility, built with an investment of approximately $100 million, is a cGMP-compliant site that offers end-to-end services. It features an integrated production and purification line, including a conjugation reactor with a capacity of up to 1,000 liters. The facility provides in-house quality control testing as well as advanced characterization services. In addition, it is equipped with a single-use system that supports the entire process: from antibody preprocessing to automated aseptic filling of the drug substance. 

Source: Lotte Biologics 

---

Formulation Development/Drug Product Manufacturing 

PCI Pharma Completes Acquisition of Fill-Finish CDMO Ajinomoto Althea  
PCI Pharma Services, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based CDMO, has completed its acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea, a San Diego, California-based sterile fill–finish CDMO and 100% subsidiary of the Japanese multinational conglomerate, Ajinomoto Co.  PCI had announced the acquisition last month (April 2025).  

Althea provides aseptic fill–finish services at clinical and commercial scales and was part of Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, a CDMO of drug substances (small molecules and biologics, including antibody drug conjugates [ADCs], oligonucleotides and peptides, and gene therapies) and sterile drug-product manufacturing. Under the deal, Althea was separated from Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services, and all other Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services will continue to operate globally as part of Ajinomoto Group. 

The acquisition provides PCI with its first-ever North American manufacturing location for prefilled syringes and cartridges, including isolator technology for these formats, as well as high-potent manufacturing suitable for ADCs. Among other categories, Althea’s campus specializes in customized, scalable oligonucleotides and peptides, supporting PCI’s existing manufacturing of complex formulations and lyophilization for a broad range of injectables, including nanoparticles, mRNA, monoclonal antibodies, proteins and other biologics. 

Source: PCI Pharma Services 

---

Roquette Completes Acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions 
Roquette, a manufacturer of excipients and plant-based ingredients, has completed its acquisition of IFF Pharma Solutions,, a business unit of IFF, providing excipients for oral dosage forms. The deal was announced in March 2024. 

IFF Pharma Solutions has annual revenues of approximately $1 billion, 10 research and development and/or production sites globally, and approximately 1,100 employees. 

This acquisition furthers Roquette’s oral drug capabilitiesand follows its 2023 acquisition of Qualicaps, a Nara, Japan-headquartered manufacturer of hard capsules and pharmaceutical processing equipment for oral dosage forms. 

Source: Roquette 

---

General 

Suanfarma Names New CEO 
Suanfarma, a Madrid-based supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients and a CDMO, has announced the appointment of Pere Mañé Godina as the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Carlos Alonso, who has served as interim CEO since October 2024, will continue to support the company as Executive Chairman, ensuring a smooth transition. 

Godina has over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical operations and CDMO leadership, having held executive roles with Uquifa, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Esteve Química (Esteve Group). His background spanned technical, operational, and strategic leadership positions, including General Manager and Group Chief Industrial Operations Officer. 

Source: Suanfarma 

---

Olon Makes Leadership Appointments 
Olon, a Rodano (Milan), Italy-headquartered CDMO of active pharmaceutical ingredients (small molecules and biologics), has named Jérôme Bédier as CEO of its French entities and Andrea Conforto as M&S Vice President, CDMO, of Olon Biotech, the company’s division dedicated to CDMO services for biologics.  

As CEO of Olon’s French entities, Bédier will lead the integration of French CDMO capabilities within Olon Group and drive the expansion of Olon’s biopharmaceutical offering. He succeeds Alain Sainsot, who successfully led GTP Bioways, a biologics CDMO, which Olon acquired in 2024.  

Conforto, as M&S Vice President, CDMO, of Olon Biotech, will be responsible for developing strategic partnerships with biotech companies and pharmaceutical firms across Europe, North America, and Asia. 

Source: Olon