“Customer centricity is something that is lacking in our industry, and we knew we could do it differently,” says Adragos Pharma CCO Henny Zijlstra, discussing the company’s mission to transform pharmaceutical contract manufacturing.
Henny Zijlstra serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Adragos Pharma, a rapidly expanding contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) headquartered in Munich. Since its founding in 2020, the company has grown to encompass five manufacturing sites across Europe and Asia, focusing on small molecule drug products.
In this exclusive interview from the showfloor at CPHI Milan, Henny shares insights into Adragos Pharma’s ambitious growth strategy, their customer-centric approach, and how digital transformation is reshaping traditional CDMO services.
Origins and Rapid Expansion
Adragos Pharma emerged from its founder’s experience at a major CDMO competitor, where he identified a crucial gap in the market: genuine customer centricity. Partnering with private equity investors, the company launched during the pandemic and has since established a network of five facilities across multiple countries.
“Speed is how we excel,” explains Henny. “We look at big pharma sites that are seeking divestment, but these aren’t easy to acquire – there are many potential buyers. Yet we consistently demonstrate our ability to move quickly and decisively.”
Building a Global Network
The company’s current network includes:
- A dedicated development site in Athens with 70 personnel
- A Leipzig, Germany site focusing on semi-solids and liquids
- A recently acquired facility in Norway for blow-fill-seal technology
- A Japanese site specializing in visual inspection, packaging, and oral solids for local markets
- A facility in France specialized in ampoules and suppositories, with a new production line
“We have a Western-focused network with Western quality standards,” Henny notes. “The only region we’re currently missing is the US, which we’re actively exploring.”
Digital Transformation in Contract Manufacturing
One of Adragos Pharma’s most striking initiatives is its commitment to modernising CDMO customer service through digital innovation. “The pharmaceutical industry is 40 years behind, not even 20,” Henny admits. “We’re developing our own software solutions, including an Adragos version of ChatGPT, and we’re working on a customer portal that will provide complete transparency on order status, from CDAs to delivery.”
The company’s digital strategy aims to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing services closer to the user-friendly experiences customers expect from modern platforms. While acknowledging they “will never be Amazon,” Henny emphasises the importance of learning from such customer-centric examples.
Future Strategy and Market Position
Looking ahead, Adragos is focusing on onshoring and building sustainable supply chains. “We know we cannot compete with Asia or India on price – that’s not who we are,” Henny explains. “Instead, we’re focusing on reliable, sustainable supply and treating customers as partners.”
The company sees particular opportunity in serving regional players, especially in Europe and Japan. “We’re not looking for 700 customers,” says Henny. “We want to partner with mid-sized regional players who appreciate higher service levels.”
For more information, visit the Adragos Pharma website.
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