Lonza, the world’s leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced today plans to further strengthen its significant US presence by constructing a large-scale commercial spray-drying facility in Bend, Oregon. The investment will establish Lonza as the leading CDMO provider of commercial-scale spray-drying PSD-4 capacity in the US. Lonza will offer a full range of spray-dried dispersion (SDD) capacity to support customers across both clinical and commercial programs. Through its integrated end-to-end offering, Lonza will support the development and manufacturing of small molecules and other modalities, including biologics and mRNA.
SDD technologies are increasingly relevant in modern drug development, as the industry addresses the growing complexity of molecules and their related bioavailability challenges. The demand for SDD CDMO services has grown alongside the increasing scientific complexity of pharmaceutical pipelines, driven by the increasing prevalence of poorly soluble drug substances. Today, a significant share of molecules in the clinical pipeline requires bioavailability enhancement. The Bend expansion is intended to meet this growing market demand, with a particular focus on US demand, enabling Lonza to provide customers with an additional option to access a complete and integrated end-to-end development and manufacturing solution for SDDs.
Wolfgang Wienand, Chief Executive Officer, Lonza, said: “The investment in the Bend site reflects our conviction that the United States will remain a leading source of pharmaceutical innovation and a key market for Lonza. It also delivers on our One Lonza strategy, powered by the Lonza Engine, to invest where we can create the greatest value for our customers and, ultimately, for patients. By significantly expanding our commercial-scale spray-drying capabilities, we strengthen a technology that can fundamentally improve the delivery and bioavailability of medicines. With this, our world-class particle engineering team in Bend will be even better able to support our customers in turning their breakthrough innovations into viable products and to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow.”
Christian Seufert, Head of Advanced Synthesis, Lonza, added: “The growing number of complex drug molecules is increasing demand for advanced particle engineering technologies. With decades of expertise in spray-drying, our Bend team helps customers address formulation challenges and progress their programs efficiently. This investment expands the capacity and capabilities needed to support customers from development through commercialization.”
The new facility will be equipped with two state-of-the-art PSD-4 spray-drying units, allowing for future capacity expansions as demand continues to grow. Additional upgrades to the Bend site include supporting infrastructure for solvent handling and storage. The project also integrates energy-efficient utility and process systems and enhanced emission control technologies to reduce overall facility energy demand.
The new facility, expected to be completed in 2029, will be delivered through a significant capital investment and will initially create more than 80 new jobs, highlighting Lonza’s commitment to expanding its manufacturing footprint in the US. The expansion enhances proximity to key customers and supports more resilient, regionalized supply chains for critical therapies.
