B1Plants
Bachem's big new peptide building in Bubendorf starts up in stages
The Swiss contract maker is bringing a large new production building online in phases, backed by long-term orders from big drug companies.
Dateline
Bubendorf, Basel-Landschaft
Bubendorf, Basel-Landschaft Photo: Roland Zumbuehl, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
In one lineOne of the largest independent peptide makers adds a building sized for obesity-era volumes.
What is happening
Bachem, a Swiss company that makes peptides and oligonucleotides for other drug companies, has been building a large new production building at its site in Bubendorf, near Basel. The company has said the building will come online in stages, starting in 2025.
Why it was built
Bachem has reported long-term supply agreements with large customers, widely understood to include makers of GLP-1 medicines, though Bachem does not usually name them. Those contracts gave the company confidence to build at a larger scale than before.
Contract makers in the chain
Many peptide drugs are not made by the company that sells them. Contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) like Bachem, PolyPeptide and CordenPharma make the ingredient under contract. Their capacity is shared across many products.
Scale
Bachem has spoken about very large synthesis and purification equipment in the new building. Exact capacity in tonnes is not public.
The caveat
Figures for this project are spread over several years of reports. Check Bachem's latest report for current timing.
What it changes for supply
Contract makers like Bachem make peptide ingredient for many companies. More large-scale space there helps drug firms that do not own peptide plants.
Still open
How fast each phase passes customer audits and inspections, and who the large customers are.
SourceBachem annual report and investor updates, 2024–2025
Peptide Global covers how medicines are made and traded. Nothing here is medical advice.
