Axplora Enhances ADC Capabilities with New GMP Payload Production Capabilities in France

• Axplora has launched a new GMP payload manufacturing workshop at its Le Mans site in France, strengthening its position in ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) commercial manufacturing.

• The facility, part of the France 2030 programme, expands Axplora’s capabilities to meet growing global demand for ADCs, which account for 40% of the world’s marketed ADCs and 50% of FDA-approved ADCs.

Axplora, a global CDMO specialising in small-molecule APIs and ADCs, has expanded its payload manufacturing capabilities with the launch of a state-of-the-art GMP workshop at its Le Mans facility in France. The investment aims to meet the increasing demand for ADC payloads, particularly for oncology therapies, and aligns with the France 2030 programme to strengthen the country’s biopharmaceutical sector.

The new workshop is designed for high containment and efficiency, featuring three Hastelloy reactors, with space to add a fourth, allowing production volumes between 30 and 200 litres. It also includes a dedicated Hastelloy filter dryer to support the safe handling of cytotoxic payloads. The facility can produce batches of up to 1.5 kg, catering to the rising need for next-generation ADC payloads, including Auristatins and Tecans.

With this expansion, Axplora now operates six dedicated ADC workshops at Le Mans, supporting both clinical and commercial payload-linker production, as well as bioconjugation. The facility also houses four purification lines, utilising high-performance chromatography for cytotoxic production. This integrated infrastructure enables seamless scale-up from early clinical development to commercial manufacturing, enhancing supply chain reliability.

“This expansion is a bold step forward in our mission to support clients at every stage of ADC development and manufacturing,” said Arul Ramadurai, Chief Commercial Officer. “By combining state-of-the-art payload manufacturing with our proven expertise in purification and bioconjugation, we’re enabling pharmaceutical innovators to accelerate drug development and deliver transformative treatments to patients faster.”