Axplora has reached a key milestone in its ongoing investment strategy, advancing a $60 million programme dedicated to strengthening HPAPI manufacturing capabilities at its Farmabios site in Gropello Cairoli. The latest development involves the construction of a new 4,500 m², three-storey R&D and laboratory hub. This facility is designed to accelerate development timelines, expand execution capacity, and enable cost-efficient high-potency production at scale. The move forms part of a broader effort to reinforce HPAPI manufacturing infrastructure across the company’s network, building on recent expansions such as the multi-million-euro lyophilization project in Le Mans, France, a key site for ADC and cytotoxic drug production.
Once operational, the new hub is expected to significantly increase both development and analytical throughput while streamlining technology transfer processes. It will also help shorten the timeline from early-stage research to commercial production. HPAPI molecules now account for more than 30 % of the global drug development pipeline, with over 1,000 highly potent small molecules currently in development. The facility will include advanced R&D laboratories, Quality Control laboratories, Microbiology laboratories, and integrated support areas, all directly linked to existing manufacturing operations. By consolidating development, analytics, and large-scale production at a single specialised site, Axplora aims to reduce delays, improve scale-up efficiency, and optimise programme economics.
Farmabios already operates one of Europe’s largest HPAPI manufacturing workshops, built to an OEB 5 containment strategy. The site includes five independent manufacturing lines and 105 m³ of installed capacity, supporting batch sizes from 0.5 to 300 kilograms. This infrastructure is fully operational today, enabling immediate execution of high-volume, high-potency programmes. Construction of the new facility is currently underway, with completion targeted for February 2027, while the existing manufacturing capacity supporting this expansion remains qualified and active, with initial projects already in progress.
Martin Meeson, Chief Executive Officer of Axplora, said: “This investment is about enabling our customers to move more quickly at scale to and through the clinic, helping them bring their products to patients sooner. As pharma pipelines consist of molecules of higher potency and additional complexity, customers are looking to avoid delays through fragmented supply chains. By expanding R&D, analytical and quality capabilities alongside large-scale HPAPI production, we are shortening development cycles and helping them control cost while accelerating time to market.” He added: “Axplora already manufactures 6 of the 14 FDA-approved commercial ADCs, and we continue to see strong momentum across ADC and other high-potency programmes. This additional expansion of our HPAPI capabilities in Gropello ensures we remain ahead of demand and fully aligned with the needs of innovators bringing next-generation therapies to patients.”
Mario Di Giacomo, Managing Director of Farmabios, commented: “Our HPAPI customers are increasingly looking to move quickly without compromising quality. This new R&D hub strengthens our ability to deliver integrated, end-to-end programmes within a single site. By reducing complexity and avoiding unnecessary transfers, we improve both timeline predictability and overall programme costs.”
