CordenPharma
CordenPharma is a privately-held CDMO providing integrated API and drug product manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, specializing in complex modalities including peptides, oligonucleotides, LNPs, sterile injectables, and highly potent oncology compounds across 13 global facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBasel, Switzerland
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CordenPharma does
CordenPharma is a privately-held full-service GMP contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) headquartered in Basel, Switzerland (legally Corden Pharma International GmbH, registered in Germany) and owned by Astorg, a Pan-European private equity firm, since 2022. The company provides integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing services across six core technology platforms: Peptides, Oligonucleotides, Lipids & LNPs, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, and Small Molecules, serving pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers developing complex therapeutic modalities including GLP-1 receptor agonists, mRNA therapeutics, gene therapies, and oncology drugs. The company operates a global network of 11 cGMP facilities across Europe and North America (expanding to 13 sites across three continents with the announced AmbioPharm acquisition), enabling end-to-end supply from early clinical development through commercialization.
CordenPharma's technology portfolio includes multiple peptide synthesis methods (solid-phase peptide synthesis / SPPS, liquid-phase peptide synthesis / LPPS, hybrid synthesis, and proprietary Tag-Assisted Peptide Synthesis / TAPS), oligonucleotide synthesis and purification, lipid excipient manufacturing with LNP formulation, aseptic fill-finish for sterile injectables including prefilled syringes, and high-potency API manufacturing with containment down to 0.05 µg/m³. The patented TAPS technology eliminates resin use and reduces solvent consumption by over 90%, contributing to SBTi-approved emissions reduction targets. The PepCellerate™ offering provides integrated first-in-human clinical trial supply combining peptide API with injectable and oral solid dose drug product, reducing development timelines by approximately three months. FY2025 revenue was €960 million with over 3,000 employees.
The company operates a managed-services revenue model based on long-term supply contracts and project-based CDMO engagements with pharmaceutical and biotech innovators, priced on a per-project basis reflecting the bespoke nature of development and manufacturing services. Sales are generated through direct enterprise engagement supported by thought leadership at proprietary events (LNP Summit, Peptides Summit) and industry conferences (DCAT Week). Customer segments are primarily enterprise pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, with notable exposure to GLP-1/metabolic disorder drug developers requiring large-scale peptide capacity. The company reported more than 40 new client projects in 2025 and is targeting approximately €1.8 billion in total group revenue by 2028, supported by approximately €3 billion in long-term manufacturing contracts and over €1 billion in announced capex from 2025-2028.
CordenPharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CordenPharma
- Legal name
- Corden Pharma International GmbH
- Website
- https://cordenpharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- CordenPharma is a privately-held CDMO providing integrated API and drug product manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, specializing in complex modalities including peptides, oligonucleotides, LNPs, sterile injectables, and highly potent oncology compounds across 13 global facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CordenPharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing (CDMO)
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK), Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA), mRNA/LNP & Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO (HLAGABAF)
Keywords
Where CordenPharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Basel
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
CordenPharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Development & Manufacturing Services: CordenPharma generates revenue through long-term supply contracts and project-based CDMO engagements for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Revenue is derived from peptide API manufacturing, sterile injectable fill-finish, oral solid dosage, lipid excipients, and small molecule APIs. The company reported €960 million in sales in 2025, up 11% at constant exchange rates, supported by long-term manufacturing contracts totaling approximately €3 billion backing the expansion program.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels10 records
CordenPharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CordenPharma is a full-service GMP Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) that provides integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing services across six core technology platforms: Peptides, Oligonucleotides, Lipids & LNPs, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, and Small Molecules. The company offers end-to-end services from API development and manufacturing through finished drug products, including oral solid dose, sterile injectable fill-finish, lipid excipients, and LNP formulation, serving pharmaceutical and biotech companies globally.
Product overview
CordenPharma is a full-service GMP Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing services across six core technology platforms: Peptides, Oligonucleotides, Lipids & LNPs, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, and Small Molecules. The company's integrated offering spans from API development and manufacturing through finished drug products, supported by proprietary technologies including PepCellerate™ for first-in-human clinical trials and TAPS (Tag-Assisted Peptide Synthesis) for sustainable large-scale peptide production. Services include oral solid dose, sterile injectable manufacturing with aseptic fill-finish, lipid excipients, LNP formulation, and comprehensive supply chain integration. The company operates a global network of 11 facilities (expanding to 13) across Europe and North America, enabling end-to-end supply from development through commercialization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PepCellerate™: First-in-Human (FIH) peptide-injectable clinical trial supply service providing end-to-end support from clinical drug substance manufacturing to finished drug product
- TAPS (Tag-Assisted Peptide Synthesis)
- LNP Starter Kit
Products and services
- Peptides Platform Comprehensive peptide API development and manufacturing services using SPPS, LPPS, hybrid synthesis, TAPS, and advanced purification technologies for pharmaceutical and biotech clients developing peptide therapeutics including GLP-1 agonists.
- Oligonucleotides Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces development timelines by at least 3 months through integrated API and drug product offering, with typical delivery timelines of 9-12 months for fully integrated FIH projects
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use CordenPharma
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CordenPharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
CordenPharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Viking TherapeuticscoreCordenPharma and Viking Therapeutics signed a multi-year strategic partnership for integrated supply of GLP-1 peptide APIs, sterile injectable fill-finish, and oral solid dosage manufacturing for Viking's VK2735 Dual GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist drug candidate. CordenPharma provides large-scale peptide manufacturing for the drug substance, fill-finish for subcutaneous formulation, and oral solid dosage manufacturing for oral peptide formulation. The partnership includes built-in redundancy through multiple drug substance sites, with Viking's VK2735 in Phase III trials for obesity. Viking has a $150 million production agreement through 2028 with CordenPharma.
- BioMed RealtyminorBioMed Realty, the largest private owner and operator of life science real estate, partnered with CordenPharma Colorado for the lease of 64,000 square feet at Flatiron Park's 5505 Central in Boulder, Colorado. The 15-year full-building lease for a LEED Gold-certified peptide development laboratory enables CordenPharma to expand its peptide process development and analytical services adjacent to its existing large-scale manufacturing facility. BioMed Realty provides purpose-built laboratory infrastructure supporting CordenPharma's strategic growth and capacity expansion.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CordenPharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bachem: Bachem is a Swiss-based CDMO specializing in peptide and oligonucleotide API manufacturing, with both SPPS and LPPS capabilities. It is CordenPharma's most direct competitor in large-scale peptide CDMO, particularly for GLP-1 and complex peptide APIs, and competes head-to-head on capacity and integrated offerings.
- Siegfried Holding: Siegfried is a Swiss-headquartered CDMO offering small molecule APIs and finished drug products including sterile and oral solid dose. It is a directly comparable European CDMO of similar scale competing in similar modalities (small molecules, injectables, highly potent APIs).
- POLYPEPTIDE Group: POLYPEPTIDE Group is a pure-play peptide CDMO with manufacturing in Europe, the US, and India. It is one of the closest comparables to CordenPharma's peptide platform and is investing in similar capacity expansion to serve GLP-1 demand, directly competing for the same customers.
- Recipharm: Recipharm is a European CDMO offering sterile injectables, oral solid dose, and APIs across multiple European sites. Now PE-owned (EQT/CD&R), it is a direct competitor to CordenPharma's drug product and small molecule services in the European mid-size CDMO segment.
Broad incumbents
- Catalent: Catalent (acquired by Novo Holdings) is a major CDMO with strong sterile injectable fill-finish and oral dose capabilities overlapping with CordenPharma's drug product services. Its injectables franchise is a direct competitor to CordenPharma Caponago.
- Eurofins CDMO: Eurofins CDMO (formerly Amatsigroup) provides drug product development, manufacturing, and analytical services including injectables and biopharmaceuticals. It is a European-based competitor overlapping with CordenPharma's injectable and small molecule CDMO services.
- Samsung Biologics: Samsung Biologics is a large biologics CDMO with growing peptide and injectable fill-finish capabilities. While primarily biologics-focused, its expansion into peptides and injectables creates competitive overlap with CordenPharma's drug product services.
- Lonza Group: Lonza is the largest global CDMO offering peptides, small molecules, biologics, and cell & gene therapy services. While broader in scope, Lonza's peptide business directly competes with CordenPharma, and its scale and Biocon-conjugates capability make it a strategic competitor for complex modalities.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon/CDMO services): Thermo Fisher's pharma services division (including legacy Patheon) is a global CDMO offering oral solid dose, sterile injectables, APIs, and biologics. Its scale and integration make it a broad incumbent competing across CordenPharma's service portfolio, particularly in oral solid dose and injectables.
Regional players
- WuXi STA: WuXi STA is the CDMO arm of WuXi AppTec offering peptides, oligonucleotides, small molecules, and biologics. While operating primarily in Asia and facing US BIOSECURE-style scrutiny, it is a major global peptide CDMO competitor and adds Asian capacity pressure to peptide pricing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CordenPharma social profiles
Digital presenceCordenPharma compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
CordenPharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CordenPharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CordenPharma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
CordenPharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CordenPharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CordenPharma
What does CordenPharma do?
CordenPharma is a full-service GMP Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) that provides integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing services across six core technology platforms: Peptides, Oligonucleotides, Lipids & LNPs, Injectables, Highly Potent & Oncology, and Small Molecules. The company offers end-to-end services from API development and manufacturing through finished drug products, including oral solid dose, sterile injectable fill-finish, lipid excipients, and LNP formulation, serving pharmaceutical and biotech companies globally.
Is CordenPharma a public or private company?
CordenPharma is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was CordenPharma founded?
CordenPharma was founded in 2006. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is CordenPharma based?
CordenPharma is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does CordenPharma make money?
One revenue line is on record: contract Development & Manufacturing Services.
Who are CordenPharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bachem, Siegfried Holding, POLYPEPTIDE Group and Recipharm. Broad incumbents are Catalent, Eurofins CDMO, Samsung Biologics, Lonza Group and Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon/CDMO services). WuXi STA is listed as a regional player.
Does CordenPharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for CordenPharma.
What industry is CordenPharma in?
CordenPharma's product category is Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing (CDMO). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGABAG, Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO, with a secondary code of HLAGABAK, Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.