Dive Brief:
- Swiss biopharma producer Lonza added to its 11 manufacturing facilities on Wednesday, announcing the opening of a nearly 14,000 square foot plant in its home city Basal.
- The Drug Product Services laboratories will develop pharmaceutical products and ingredients. The company touted that the labs' technology platform would provide clients with strong quality control. The platform can analyze the particles in a drug product to gauge impurities, as well as test drug containers to measure efficiency in keeping out contaminants.
- "The addition of drug product development services to Lonza's global offerings is the next part of our journey along the healthcare continuum, a step that moves us closer to our customers and their patients," CEO Richard Ridinger said in a November 2 statement.
Dive Insight:
Lonza has spent 2016 pursuing a growth strategy that centers on ramping up its life science manufacturing operations. Of particular interest for the manufacturer is strengthening its cell biology portfolio and fulfilling its Healthcare Continuum plan, which includes the development of pharmaceuticals ranging from patented prescription drugs to well-being products.
To reach that end, the company has targeted bolt-on acquisitions. It completed an acquisition of Benicia, CA-based InterHealth Nutraceuticals in September for up to $300 million. It also bought North Carolina's Triangle Research Labs from healthcare investment firm PBM Capital in June for an undisclosed sum.
Lonza also spruced up its consumer business in February, opening its hair care R&D facility Global Centre of Hair Care Technology in the U.K.
Competitors have also been working to tally up more facilities. Last month, Catalent picked up San Diego-based Pharmatek and its 200 employees, though financial terms weren't revealed. And in June, fellow Swiss life sciences company Siegfried announced the Chinese Environmental Proteciton Bureau had green lit its new, 12,300 cubic foot manufacturing site in Nantong.