[Seungkwon kim, Edaily Reporter] Lotte Biologics announced Wednesday that it has signed a manufacturing contract with a biotech company based in Asia to produce a clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate. The agreement marks the official launch of the ADC manufacturing facility at the company’s bio campus in Syracuse, New York, which has been under expansion since 2023.

With the introduction of its ADC contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) services, Lotte Biologics aims to elevate the competitiveness of the Syracuse site by meeting a wide range of customer needs from clinical development to commercial-scale production.

Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the ADC manufacturing facility on Lotte Biologics’ Syracuse campus in New York. (Photo courtesy of Lotte Biologics)

The company plans to leverage this first contract to attract additional clients while accelerating strategic partnerships to establish a one-stop ADC service platform. Through this, it seeks to strengthen its position in the ADC market and advance its status as a global CDMO.

Lotte Biologics has invested approximately $100 million in the ADC production facility, which meets current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards. The site includes an integrated manufacturing and purification line, featuring a conjugation reactor with a capacity of up to 1,000 liters. In addition to in-house quality control testing, the company offers analytical characterization services.

From antibody preprocessing to automated aseptic filling of drug substances, the facility utilizes a single-use system to flexibly accommodate diverse customer requirements.

“Through this inaugural contract, we aim to deliver high-quality ADC therapeutics reliably and strengthen our foothold not only in antibody manufacturing but also as a global leader in ADC production,” said James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics. “We are actively seeking collaboration opportunities to enhance our competitiveness in the ADC modality business,” he added.

The company recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Syracuse campus to celebrate the completion of the ADC manufacturing facility. The event was attended by CEO James Park, Global Strategy Head Yoo-Yeol Shin, U.S. Corporation President Michael Housleyden, and around 100 local employees.