Lonza Shares Rise on Expanded U.S. Biopharma Collaboration and ADC Capacity Expansion
On 1 July 2026, Lonza Group shares gained 1.91% after the company disclosed an expanded strategic collaboration with an unnamed U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company. The new agreement adds two biologics programs for commercial production and includes options for two additional programs, with the potential to generate a cumulative contract value measured in the multi‑billion‑Swiss‑franc range.
The collaboration will be executed across Lonza’s commercial‑scale biologics sites in the United States, supported by its drug substance and drug product development and manufacturing operations in Europe. Lonza highlighted that the multi‑site arrangement is designed to provide geographic flexibility, supply security and specialised manufacturing capabilities.
To deliver the programs, Lonza will apply its mammalian antibody technologies, notably the N‑1 perfusion platform, and will implement manufacturing process optimisations aimed at reducing cycle times. The company will also provide drug‑product manufacturing and related services. Gordon Bates, Head of Integrated Biologics at Lonza, described the partnership as evidence of Lonza’s role as a trusted manufacturing partner for large biopharmaceutical companies.
In a separate announcement dated 30 June 2026, Lonza revealed plans to expand payload‑linker manufacturing capacity at its Visp site in Switzerland to meet rising demand from the antibody‑drug conjugate (ADC) market. The investment will add commercial‑scale capacity for highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients and ADC payload‑linker molecules within an existing GMP‑certified facility, complemented by dedicated analytical and process‑development laboratories. The expanded facility is expected to become operational in 2028 and will support both clinical‑stage and commercial programmes. Christian Seufert, Head of Advanced Synthesis at Lonza, noted that the rapid growth of the ADC market is driving the need for advanced manufacturing capabilities for complex payload‑linkers.
The new capacity will be integrated with Lonza’s existing ADC manufacturing network in Visp and Stein, which already encompasses monoclonal antibody production, conjugation, drug‑product manufacturing and quality‑control functions.