WuXi Biologics Pitches European Capacity at CPHI Milan
WuXi Biologics Pitches European Capacity at CPHI Milan
WuXi Biologics used CPHI Milan 2026 to showcase its European manufacturing capabilities as biopharmaceutical companies place greater emphasis on regional supply resilience, manufacturing flexibility and reliable access to biologics capacity.
At the October 8–10 event in Milan, the global contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) highlighted its integrated platform and European operations in Dundalk, Ireland, and Wuppertal, Germany. The company said the two sites provide complementary capabilities spanning clinical, late-stage and commercial biologics manufacturing.
Dundalk Provides Established Commercial Manufacturing Capacity
According to the company, Dundalk provides 54,000 litres of drug-substance manufacturing capacity across perfusion and fed-batch platforms and has served more than 10 clients. In 2026, the site secured several new large-scale manufacturing projects and began the associated technology-transfer activities.
The company also pointed to Dundalk's experience with its Global Dual Sourcing strategy, including same-scale, scale-up and process-enhancement transfers. The objective is to provide customers with additional manufacturing options while maintaining process comparability and consistent quality standards.
Wuppertal Adds Flexible European Capacity
WuXi Biologics is also positioning its Wuppertal facility as a flexible manufacturing option for programmes at different stages of development.
The German site currently has 12,000 litres of single-use bioreactor capacity, with expansion potential to 24,000 litres. It also provides technology-transfer, manufacturing science and technology, quality-control and logistics capabilities.
Located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Wuppertal can support clinical, late-stage and commercial programmes. Together with Dundalk, the facility gives WuXi Biologics a European manufacturing network designed to provide customers with additional capacity and geographic flexibility.
Supply Resilience Becomes a Central Selling Point
WuXi Biologics' CPHI Milan message comes as biopharmaceutical companies increasingly assess manufacturing networks not only on available capacity but also on geographic diversification and the ability to transfer processes between sites.
The company argues that regional European manufacturing can bring production closer to important markets and regulatory environments while remaining connected to its broader global network.
This approach is particularly relevant for complex biologics, where moving a manufacturing programme between facilities can require extensive process development, analytical work, technology transfer and validation.
WuXi Biologics says its integrated quality, manufacturing science and technology and project teams are designed to manage these activities across its network.
Complex Biologics Remain a Major Growth Area
Beyond physical manufacturing capacity, WuXi Biologics highlighted the scale and complexity of its development portfolio.
As of June 2026, the company said it was supporting 1,064 integrated projects, including 221 bispecific and multispecific antibody projects and 328 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programmes. Complex modalities accounted for more than half of its portfolio.
The company also reported more than 66 DNA-to-IND projects completed within six months and said its global capacity and platform readiness allow new client projects to be initiated within four weeks.
These figures are company-reported performance metrics rather than independently audited industry benchmarks, but they illustrate the areas WuXi Biologics is emphasizing as it competes for global CRDMO programmes.
Technology Platforms Aim to Shorten Development Timelines
WuXi Biologics also presented technology platforms intended to accelerate biologics development.
Its WuXia™ TrueSite cell-line platform uses targeted integration to support stable protein expression. The company reports antibody titres of 8–12 g/L for monoclonal antibodies and 7–10 g/L for bispecific antibodies.
For high-dose subcutaneous therapies, WuXiHigh™ 2.0 combines formulation, device and manufacturing development. WuXi Biologics says the platform can support protein concentrations of up to 240 mg/mL and viscosity reductions of up to 90%.
These platforms are aimed at reducing development and manufacturing complexity as drug developers increasingly work with more sophisticated biologic molecules and patient-friendly delivery formats.
European Capacity Supports a Broader CRDMO Strategy
WuXi Biologics is presenting its European footprint as part of a wider strategy that combines regional manufacturing with global technology and quality systems.
The company says its manufacturing network has completed technology transfers from development through process performance qualification (PPQ) in as little as 3.5 months. It also reported a 100% PPQ campaign success rate, with 34 PPQs scheduled for 2026 and another 30 for 2027.
For customers, the value proposition is therefore not simply additional manufacturing volume. WuXi Biologics is pitching an integrated model in which development, technology transfer, quality and manufacturing are connected across locations.
CPHI Milan Highlights Changing Biologics Manufacturing Priorities
WuXi Biologics' presence at CPHI Milan reflects a broader shift in the biologics manufacturing market. Drug developers increasingly need access to flexible capacity while also considering regulatory requirements, geographic exposure, technology-transfer risk and continuity of supply.
The company's European strategy is built around two complementary sites: Dundalk provides established commercial-scale manufacturing, while Wuppertal adds flexible single-use capacity for clinical, late-stage and commercial programmes.
As biologics pipelines become more complex, the ability to combine capacity with technology platforms, quality systems and reliable process transfer is likely to remain a major factor in CRDMO selection.
Sources:
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