- Simtra BioPharma Solutions has entered a five-year strategic alliance with the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to provide an integrated service for ADC manufacturing.
- The partnership aims to simplify and accelerate the development and fill-finish of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) by unifying bioconjugation and drug product services.
Simtra BioPharma Solutions, a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) focused on sterile injectables, has announced a five-year strategic partnership with the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. Known as MilliporeSigma in the US and Canada, Merck’s Life Science arm will collaborate with Simtra to provide a streamlined offering for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) manufacturing.
The alliance will connect Merck’s bioconjugation and linker/payload manufacturing expertise with Simtra’s fill-finish and drug product formulation services. The companies aim to simplify the complex process of ADC production, offering a unified programme management structure to improve efficiency and minimise handoffs. Each project will benefit from designated managers at both partner sites.
“This collaboration brings together two experts in the ADC value chain,” said Franco Negron, CEO of Simtra BioPharma Solutions. “Harmonizing our processes with designated program management from start to finish will give customers greater confidence that their product will be delivered on time and to the highest quality standards.”
The demand for ADCs is rising, with over 200 currently in active clinical trials. More than 70% of these therapies are manufactured by CDMOs. According to a Roots Analysis study cited in the release, the ADC manufacturing market is projected to grow from $1.79 billion today to $7 billion by 2035.
Benjamin Hein, Head of Life Science Services at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, said the partnership was built around the urgency of accelerating drug development. He noted that with more than 200 ADCs in active clinical trials, there is a pressing need to speed up manufacturing and minimise risk during handovers. By connecting the bioconjugation and fill-finish steps, the companies aim to help clients meet aggressive timelines and extend patient access to these therapies as quickly and safely as possible.
By integrating drug substance conjugation with fill-finish, the partnership seeks to reduce risk, shorten timelines, and enable faster delivery of cancer therapies.
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