This acquisition strengthens U.S. peptide production capacity and expands global expertise in the field of complex peptide APIs
- CordenPharma has reached an agreement to acquire AmbioPharm, a U.S.-based peptide CDMO company with manufacturing sites in North Augusta, South Carolina, USA, and Shanghai, China.
- Through this acquisition, CordenPharma will broaden its peptide API development and manufacturing capabilities for complex peptide projects.
- The transaction expands CordenPharma’s upstream and downstream peptide production footprint, adding U.S.-based peptide API supply capacity and incorporating the Shanghai site into its global customer service network.
- The deal strengthens CordenPharma’s peptide CDMO capabilities, offering clients a wider range of options in terms of production lines, scaling pathways, and regional/global supply models.
Basel, SwitzerlandMay 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CordenPharma, a global leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire AmbioPharm, a U.S.-based peptide API CDMO company.
(Photo of AmbioPharm) – CordenPharma to acquire AmbioPharm’s two peptide API manufacturing plants in North Augusta, South Carolina, USA, and Shanghai, China.
Complementary Capabilities in Peptide APIs
With its two sites in South Carolina, USA, and Shanghai, China, AmbioPharm adds differentiated peptide manufacturing capabilities to CordenPharma’s existing peptide platform and expertise. Upon integration, these capabilities will include advanced linear and fragment peptide approaches, supported by flexible Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS), Liquid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (LPPS), and hybrid synthesis technologies, as well as CordenPharma’s Tag-Assisted Peptide Synthesis (TAPS) technology. Following the transaction’s completion, this acquisition will provide clients with flexible options to meet their specific production needs for complex, long-chain, and high-purity peptide APIs.
Expanding CordenPharma’s Manufacturing Facility Network
AmbioPharm employs approximately 400 people across its two sites. This acquisition expands CordenPharma’s U.S. peptide production capacity and incorporates Shanghai peptide supply into its operations, building upon its global network of 11 manufacturing sites in Europe and North America.
As CordenPharma’s second peptide manufacturing facility in the U.S., the acquisition of AmbioPharm’s North Augusta, South Carolina site will significantly increase capacity focused on peptide API purification and lyophilization steps. This acquisition will complement the existing capabilities of CordenPharma Colorado (USA), enabling CordenPharma to offer fully U.S.-based peptide API supply solutions to meet client needs for large-scale commercial peptide projects.
At AmbioPharm’s Shanghai campus, CordenPharma will leverage its new, advanced peptide manufacturing facility to support clinical and global commercial peptide supply through substantial upstream SPPS, LPPS, and hybrid synthesis capacity, along with some downstream capabilities.
Expanding CordenPharma’s Global Peptide CDMO Capabilities
By integrating the North Augusta and Shanghai sites, CordenPharma expands its global peptide platform across three continents, offering clients end-to-end peptide development and manufacturing support.
Since CordenPharma was acquired by Astorg in 2022, the company has continuously expanded its global peptide platform through strategic investments and capacity expansion. As part of the transaction, AmbioPharm’s shareholders will reinvest in the combined business. This reinvestment reflects confidence in the expanded platform’s capabilities and long-term growth potential. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Dr. Michael Quirmbach, President and CEO of CordenPharma Group, stated: “This acquisition significantly enhances the complementary capabilities of CordenPharma’s Peptides Platform and advances our strategic goal of being a leading peptide manufacturing partner. As peptide projects become increasingly complex and advanced, clients value CDMO partners that can offer both upstream scientific route selection and process robustness, as well as downstream production scale and built-in geographic flexibility. AmbioPharm’s capabilities perfectly complement our existing peptide expertise, helping us broaden how we support clients from development through commercialization.”
Brian Gregg, CEO of AmbioPharm, stated: “Joining CordenPharma marks an exciting new chapter for AmbioPharm. By working together, we will be able to offer clients a broader range of technical capabilities, greater global capacity, and a highly reliable peptide platform to support the development and commercialization of peptide drugs through a fully integrated global manufacturing facility network. Importantly, we remain focused on the patients who depend on these medicines.”
Antoine Thomas, Director at Astorg, stated: “This acquisition marks an important step in CordenPharma’s journey, strengthening the company’s strategic positioning and providing significant opportunities for long-term growth in the peptide field.” Paul Perreault, Chairman of the Board of CordenPharma, stated: “This is an exciting time for the potential of peptide drugs to benefit patients worldwide. At CordenPharma, we have now further strengthened our capabilities to deliver on this promise for our partners.”
Ling Yang, Partner and Head of Healthcare at Carlyle Asia, stated: “Since investing in AmbioPharm, we have worked closely with the company as a strategic shareholder to enhance its operations and expand its global footprint. We are deeply proud of what AmbioPharm has achieved. Given its well-established peptide platform and expertise, we are thrilled about this merger with CordenPharma. We remain confident in the strong growth potential of the global peptide CDMO market and look forward to continuing to support the combined business in reaching new heights of success.”
BNP Paribas served as exclusive financial advisor to AmbioPharm.
About CordenPharma
CordenPharma is a CDMO partner dedicated to supporting innovative companies in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors working with complex formulations, advancing their drug development lifecycle. Leveraging the collective expertise of teams across its globally integrated facility network, CordenPharma provides customized outsourcing services covering the entire supply chain from early clinical development through commercialization.
With scientific expertise and partnerships at its core, CordenPharma offers clients high-value end-to-end services, with a strategic focus on peptides, oligonucleotides, customized lipid excipients, Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP), sterile injectables, and large-scale supply of small molecules (including both high-potency and standard potency).
CordenPharma Group currently operates 11 plants in Europe and North America. In fiscal year 2025, it achieved sales of €960 million and employs over 3,000 people. In 2022, CordenPharma was acquired by Astorg to accelerate its growth and further enhance its capabilities in the CDMO sector.
For more information, visit cordenpharma.com or follow CordenPharma on LinkedIn.
About AmbioPharm
AmbioPharm is a global custom synthesis peptide CDMO company, founded in 2005 and headquartered in North Augusta, South Carolina, USA, specializing in developing efficient manufacturing processes for clinical and commercial-stage peptide Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Utilizing its manufacturing plants in South Carolina, USA, and Shanghai, China, we produce New Chemical Entities (NCEs) under cGMP conditions for global clients. Both plants have undergone multiple inspections by the FDA and other global regulatory agencies with excellent results. Our mission is: Accelerate your peptide products to patients.
For more information about AmbioPharm, visit www.ambiopharm.com or follow AmbioPharm on LinkedIn.
About Astorg
Astorg is a leading pan-European private equity firm managing over €24 billion in assets. Astorg is a diversified specialist investment firm with deep expertise in healthcare, technology, and business services. In the healthcare sector, Astorg focuses on a few specific sub-sectors: pharmaceutical services & technology, medical technology & healthcare services, and life science tools & diagnostics. With a unique entrepreneurial culture, an active shareholder perspective, and streamlined decision-making, Astorg partners with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams to acquire high-quality international B2B companies, providing strategic guidance, governance support, and capital to enhance their strategic positioning and achieve financial goals. Astorg is headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in London, Paris, New York, Frankfurt, and Milan.
For more information about Astorg, visit www.astorg.com or follow Astorg on LinkedIn.
CordenPharma is a CDMO partner dedicated to supporting innovative companies in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors working with complex formulations, advancing their drug development lifecycle. Leveraging the collective expertise of teams across its globally integrated facility network, CordenPharma provides customized outsourcing services covering the entire supply chain from early clinical development through commercialization. With scientific expertise and partnerships at its core, CordenPharma offers clients high-value end-to-end services, with a strategic focus on peptides, oligonucleotides, customized lipid excipients, Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP), sterile injectables, and broad supply of small molecules (high-potency and standard potency).