WuXi AppTec Expands Peptide and API Manufacturing

On Jan. 8, 2024, WuXi AppTec, a contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), announced it is expanding its manufacturing facilities with two new peptide manufacturing plants—one at the company’s Changzhou facility and the other at its Taixing site, both in China. The expansion will boost solid-phase peptide synthesis total reactor volume to 32,000 L. The plants will use digital operation systems with automated solvent delivery that optimize production and minimizes human errors, reducing production cycle time.

The new peptide plant at Taixing spans a total area of 169 acres and will facilitate the manufacture of synthetic molecules, including small molecules, peptides, oligonucleotides, and conjugates. Phase one of construction, which will be operational in 2025, includes nine plants with a total reactor volume of more than 1000 m³. The facility will include a dedicated plant for API cleanrooms. After completion, the expansion will increase WuXi AppTec’s total reactor volume for small-molecule API and intermediate manufacturing to more than 4000 m³.

“The launch of our new peptide manufacturing plants and the development of the new Taixing site are important milestones for WuXi AppTec. Our expanded capacity is essential for accelerating drug development and ensuring a reliable supply chain for our global partners. WuXi AppTec will continue to focus on enhancing our capability and capacity, accelerating innovative therapies to patients globally,” stated Minzhang Chen, co-CEO of WuXi AppTec, in a press release.

WuXi AppTec’s TIDES CRDMO platform features services for API and drug product from discovery to commercial stages for oligonucleotides, peptides, and conjugates. The company supported approximately 50 preclinical- to commercial-stage peptide projects in 2023.

Source: WuXi AppTec