Axplora, a company in complex active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, announced (17 March 2026) a major milestone in its $60 million investment programme at its Farmabios site in Gropello Cairoli, Italy. The latest phase includes construction of a new 4,500 m², three-storey R&D and laboratory hub, designed to accelerate development, expand execution capacity and deliver cost-efficient high-potency manufacturing at scale.
The investment builds on recent expansions across the Axplora network, including the multi-million-euro lyophilization expansion in Le Mans, France, strengthening the Group’s integrated ADC manufacturing platform. Once operational, the new facility will increase development and analytical throughput, reduce technology transfer complexity and compress timelines from early development to commercial production.
HPAPI (Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) molecules now make up over 30 % of the global drug development pipeline, with over 1,000 highly potent small molecules in development. The new facility will house state-of-the-art R&D laboratories, Quality Control laboratories, Microbiology laboratories, and integrated support areas, directly connected to existing manufacturing operations. Co-locating development, analytics and large-scale HPAPI production within a single specialised site eliminates multi-site delays, improves scale-up efficiency and enhances overall programme economics.
Construction is underway, with completion targeted for February 2027. The underlying HPAPI manufacturing capacity supporting this growth is qualified and operational, with first projects under way.