Celonic Group and CARBOGEN AMCIS forge strategic alliance for integrated ADC manufacturing
Celonic Group, a biologics contract development and manufacturing organisation based in Basel, Switzerland, has entered into a strategic alliance with CARBOGEN AMCIS to establish an end-to-end platform for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) production. The collaboration combines Celonic’s upstream biologics capabilities with CARBOGEN AMCIS’s downstream expertise in payload synthesis, conjugation chemistry, and sterile fill-finish operations.
Addressing supply chain complexity in biopharmaceutical development
The partnership responds to a persistent challenge in ADC manufacturing, where development programmes typically require coordination across multiple contract manufacturing organisations. By integrating their respective capabilities, the two companies aim to reduce technical handoffs, maintain tighter quality control, and compress development timelines for client programmes spanning early-stage research through commercial launch.
“By integrating Celonic’s advanced biologics platforms with CARBOGEN AMCIS’s world-class payload and conjugation capabilities, we’re enabling a fully harmonised development and manufacturing pathway, from DNA to drug product,” said Dr Samanta Cimitan, chief executive officer of Celonic Group. “It’s a scalable, compliant, and commercially ready solution designed to accelerate innovation and reduce complexity for our partners.”
Infrastructure investments support expanded capacity
Celonic Group has recently enhanced its biologics development centre in Basel and expanded its GMP manufacturing site in Heidelberg, Germany. The upgrades include implementation of the high-yield GS-CHOvolution cell line platform, enhanced perfusionbased technologies for process optimisation, and additional commercial-scale biomanufacturing suites.
CARBOGEN AMCIS brings two decades of ADC manufacturing experience to the alliance, having delivered its first ADC project in 2005. The company operates dedicated conjugation facilities in Switzerland and maintains clinical-to-commercial sterile liquid drug product manufacturing capacity at an ANMS-approved facility in France. These sites provide development and supply capabilities across all clinical phases and commercial volume ranges.
Technical scope and regulatory support
The integrated platform encompasses cell line development and antibody production at scale, payload and linker synthesis and manufacturing, ADC conjugation and sterile fill-finish operations, and regulatory support for investigational new drug, investigational medicinal product dossier, and biologics licence application filings.
“The new targeted cancer treatments have fuelled a rising demand for ADCs, and this alliance positions us to meet that demand with unmatched technical expertise and operational agility,” said Stephan Fritschi, chief executive officer of Carbogen Amcis Group. “Together, we offer a comprehensive service for ADC development, streamlined, scalable, and globally compliant.”
Arpit Vyas, global managing director of Dishman and Carbogen Amcis Group, noted that the partnership extends the company’s established linker and payload development services. “Innovators will now get a seamless, end-to-end ADC path – from cell line to commercial fill-finish – under one coordinated platform,” Vyas said. He added that the company is evaluating continuous-flow conjugation using custom micro-equipment systems designed to maintain precise control over pH, temperature, stoichiometry, and residence time parameters.
Celonic Group employs more than 500 personnel across its Basel and Heidelberg sites. CARBOGEN AMCIS operates facilities across Europe and Asia supporting development, clinical supply, and commercial manufacture of high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients and complex bioconjugates.
