The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Lonza is building a new large-scale spray-drying facility in Bend, Oregon, USA. This investment will help meet the rising need for better ways to deliver medicines, especially as the molecules used in drugs become more complex. Spray-drying is a process that helps improve how well a medicine works in the body, which is called bioavailability. The new facility will create over 80 jobs and provide complete solutions for developing and manufacturing spray-dried dispersions (SDDs) for small molecules, biologics, and mRNA-based medicines. It will include two advanced spray-drying units and updated equipment for handling and storing solvents. The site will also focus on sustainability by using energy-efficient systems and better emission controls. “By expanding our spray-drying capabilities, we can significantly improve how medicines are delivered and absorbed by the body,” said Wolfgang Wienand, CEO of Lonza. “This will help our customers turn their innovative ideas into real treatments and produce the medicines of the future.” The new facility is expected to be completed by 2029 and will support more reliable, locally-based supply chains for important therapies. In addition to this investment in the U.S., Lonza has also expanded its operations in Europe, particularly in Visp, Switzerland, to meet the growing demand for complex medicines like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). For example, Genentech recently announced a $750 million investment to double the size of its manufacturing facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, further strengthening the region’s pharmaceutical production capacity.