Siegfried, a CDMO of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and drug products, recently invested $190 million to expand its footprint in small-molecule and biopharmaceutical fill–finish capacity and capabilities. Marianne Späne, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Siegfried, outlined the company’s expansions at the DCAT Member Company Announcement Forum on March 20, 2023, at DCAT Week.  

During the last two years, the company has invested in its biologics fill–finish capacities at its site in Hameln, Germany, and now has six different vial lines (ready-to-use [RTU] and vials), online visual inspection, and a packaging line as well as a fully equipped new formulation and analytical department. The company’s expertise spans higher-volume vaccines for COVID-19 and low-volume high-value biologics in Phase I and Phase II development.  

Further on the drug-product side, in 2021, the company acquired two Novartis sites, near Barcelona, to achieve critical mass in drug products with five sites worldwide offering a broad range of development and manufacturing services for oral (HIPO, Non-HIPO), inhalative, and aseptic formulations for both small and large scales. Within two years, the company has now successfully integrated the two new sites in Barcelona and transformed them from captive use to a multiclient-facing CDMO. As a concluding part of the integration, the company recently inaugurated a new Development Center for Drug Products at the two Barcelona sites. At this new facility, 40 specialists will work closely with customers to bring their products to industrial scale. The Development Center will play a key role in providing services from development to commercial production. It includes dedicated facilities for highly potent oral solid dosage forms, which will allow Siegfried to offer development services and flexible pilot capacities in this market segment. 

In addition, Siegfried is making several large investments to expand its capacities and capabilities in small molecules. At the same time, it is strengthening its supportive development functions that provide process optimization services, such as introducing second-generation processes, applying green chemistry, and researching new technologies with the aim to make the production of drug substances more sustainable. 

In Minden, Germany, the company has started the construction of a new large-scale production plant for innovative drug substances, with a total investment of up to CHF 100 million ($109 million). And shortly, the company will start the construction of a new R&D Center for Drug Substances in Evionnaz, Switzerland.