WuXi AppTec speeds global manufacturing expansion as demand rises

By AI, Created 7:31 AM UTC, June 05, 2026, /AGP/ – WuXi AppTec is expanding manufacturing capacity across the U.S., Europe and Asia as demand grows for drug development and manufacturing services, especially in peptides and oligonucleotides. The company plans to lift capital spending at least 17% this year while bringing new facilities and capabilities online through 2027.

Why it matters: - WuXi AppTec is adding capacity ahead of demand to reduce bottlenecks for customers advancing drug programs. - The expansion targets higher-growth modalities, including peptides, oligonucleotides and lipid nanoparticle-based manufacturing. - The company is widening its global footprint so customers can choose manufacturing locations across the U.S., Europe and Asia while keeping quality standards consistent.

What happened: - WuXi AppTec is accelerating a broad manufacturing expansion across the United States, Europe and Asia. - The company plans to raise capital expenditures by at least 17% this year to between RMB 6.5 billion and RMB 7.5 billion. - Dr. Minzhang Chen, WuXi AppTec co-CEO, said the company’s manufacturing growth is being driven by customer needs. - Pharma Manufacturing reported the company’s global network is designed to give customers manufacturing flexibility while maintaining consistent quality across regions.

The details: - The new Middletown, Delaware facility is scheduled to begin oral solid dosage manufacturing in Q4 2026. - Sterile and injectable production at the Delaware site is expected to start in Q4 2027. - The Delaware site covers 1.74 million square feet and will become WuXi AppTec’s largest U.S. facility. - The Couvet, Switzerland site is being expanded to support commercial demand. - A new PSD-4 spray dryer at Couvet is expected to become operational later this year. - Additional parenteral manufacturing and lipid nanoparticle capabilities are planned for the Switzerland site. - The Singapore site, now under construction, is expected to begin Phase I operations in 2027. - Singapore will add API manufacturing for small molecules, oligonucleotides, peptides and conjugates. - Two new small molecule API plants at the Taixing site in China are expected to start operations this year. - Two more Taixing plants for oligonucleotide, peptide and PMO production are under construction and scheduled to begin operations in 2027. - WuXi AppTec also plans to start construction of another API production site in Changzhou ahead of schedule. - By the end of 2025, WuXi AppTec’s total small molecule API reactor volume exceeded 4,000 kL. - Total solid-phase peptide synthesis reactor volume surpassed 100,000 liters ahead of schedule. - WuXi AppTec expects peptide synthesis capacity to exceed 130,000 liters by the end of 2026.

Between the lines: - The buildout suggests WuXi AppTec is betting that demand in advanced modalities will keep growing. - The expansion also signals a push to serve customers closer to where programs are developed and manufactured. - The company’s small molecule pipeline reached 3,550 molecules by the end of March 2026. - WuXi AppTec added 328 new molecules in the first quarter alone. - WuXi TIDES remains one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses globally, with full-year growth expected to be about 40% year over year. - In Q1 2026, WuXi TIDES D&M customers rose 28% year over year and molecules rose 59% year over year.

What’s next: - The Delaware site will continue ramping toward injectable and sterile production in 2027. - The Couvet spray dryer is expected to come online later this year. - The Singapore site is slated to begin Phase I operations in 2027. - The two additional Taixing plants are scheduled to start operations in 2027. - WuXi AppTec expects to keep expanding capacity before customer demand fully arrives.

The bottom line: - WuXi AppTec is using global capital spending to build manufacturing capacity before demand peaks, especially in peptides and other advanced drug modalities.