Two add more in ADCs

Lonza has added phase-appropriate support for the discovery and development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other bioconjugates to its Advanced Synthesis offering. This now includes the full integration of the company’s ADC technology platform comprising GlycoConnect antibody conjugation technology, HydraSpace polar spacer technology and toxSYN linker payloads. 

All of these came to Lonza via the acquisition of Synaffix in 2023. The company has recently added its dual‑payload ADC technology. This enables the development of next‑generation ADCs to address tumour heterogeneity and drug-induced resistance by attaching two complementary cytotoxic agents to a single antibody, with precisely controllable payload ratios. 

Lonza has also added new scientific roles and continued the expansion of laboratory capacity at the site in Oss, Netherlands, enabling broader R&D activities across ADCs and emerging bioconjugate modalities. The site now “combines rapid small‑scale bioconjugate prototyping as a service with newly established scale‑up capabilities to deliver pilot toxicology material, while providing on‑site process and analytical development”, the firm said.

Separately, Axplora has announced a “multi-million-euro investment” to add commercial-scale lyophilisation at its site at Le Mans, France, where it already has R&D-scale capabilities. This comes in response to booming demand from the ADCs market

The new capacity will be available. Axplora stated that it will “offer integrated manufacturing solutions for the isolation and handling of complex payload and linker intermediates, particularly where stability and safe handling are critical”.

Le Mans has over 20 years of ADC experience and experience in multiple payload classes, including tecans, auristatins, maytansines and pyrrolobenzodiazepines. This latest investment forms part of an €30 million investment programme there and follows on from previous payload and capacity expansions.