Lonza has reported sales of CHF 6.6 billion (-0.2% CER and -2.1% AER3 compared to the prior year). A CORE EBITDA of CHF 1.9 billion resulted in a robust margin of 29.0%, driven by high demand for commercial CDMO services and strong operational execution. Adjusted for the COVID-related mRNA business and the related termination impact in 2023, underlying sales grew at around 7% in CER and CORE EBITDA margin improved by low-single-digit ppts.
CDMO sales were driven by low-teens underlying CER growth, supported by strong performance in the Mammalian, Bioconjugates, Small Molecules and Cell & Gene Technologies businesses. This positive momentum compensated for the 2023 loss of COVID-related mRNA business, lower market demand for capsules within the CHI division, and softness in the Bioscience business.
Business highlights in 2024 included generally strong order momentum and contract signings worth around CHF 10 billion. Lonza also successfully closed the acquisition of the Genentech large-scale mammalian facility in Vacaville (US) from Roche on 1 October 2024 and has since then signed two new customer contracts. With CHF 1.4 billion of CapEx in 2024 (22% of sales), Lonza also made good progress in executing its ongoing organic investment program to enable future growth across technologies.
