AGC Pharma Chemicals

What AGC Pharma Chemicals does

AGC Pharma Chemicals is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in small molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and intermediates, with particular expertise in fluorinated substances. The company operates production facilities in Malgrat de Mar (Barcelona), Spain — its European headquarters — and in Japan, offering integrated end-to-end services spanning gram-scale laboratory work through ton-scale commercial manufacturing. It serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies requiring API development and manufacturing support across the full drug lifecycle, including process development, API lifecycle management, quality management, supply chain management, and cGMP manufacturing.

The company's product portfolio comprises six generic APIs for human pharmaceuticals (Mexiletine Hydrochloride, Gliquidone, Dipyridamole, Telmisartan, Pirenzepine) and one for animal health (Pimobendan), alongside fluorinated raw materials and specialized CDMO service lines. Manufacturing capabilities include a micronization plant with 30 kg/h (max 50 kg/h) processing capacity using Hosokawa Alpine Multi-Mill technology capable of handling OEB 4 high-potency APIs, a GMP Kilo Lab for HAPI production up to 7 kg with Hastelloy reactors, and a new 7,500 m³ HPAPI facility under construction. AGC Pharma Chemicals was the first CDMO in Spain to implement a fully integrated Electronic Batch Record (eBR) system connected to its Distributed Control System (DCS).

AGC Pharma Chemicals is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGC Inc. (formerly Asahi Glass Company), a Japanese multinational conglomerate reporting approximately EUR 12.7 billion in net sales in 2021. The company generates revenue through B2B professional services for custom API development and manufacturing projects on a quote-based engagement model, reaching customers via enterprise field sales, participation in major pharmaceutical industry events (CPHI, BIO, DCAT Week, BOS, BioTrinity, Swiss Biotech Day), and strategic partnerships such as its 2023 alliance with UK-based CRO CatSci Ltd. The business transitioned in 2019 from a single-customer production center to a multi-client CDMO, and is currently executing a EUR 90 million Barcelona HPAPI facility expansion announced in 2022 that is expected to create approximately 100 new jobs.

Name

AGC Pharma Chemicals

Legal name

AGC Pharma Chemicals Europe S.L.U.

Website

https://agcpharmachemicals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AGC Pharma Chemicals is a CDMO subsidiary of AGC Inc. specializing in small molecule APIs and intermediates, with expertise in fluorinated substances and HPAPI manufacturing. It serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies globally with integrated development and manufacturing services from gram to ton scale.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical CDMO Services (Contract API Manufacturing)

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ) (HLAGAHAL), Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK), CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)

Keywords

• API contract manufacturing
• Small molecule APIs
• Pharmaceutical CDMO services
• HPAPI manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical intermediates

Headquarters

HQ city

Malgrat De Mar

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. CDMO Services - API Manufacturing: AGC Pharma Chemicals generates revenue through providing contract development and manufacturing services for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and intermediates. Services span from early-phase clinical trial material manufacturing through commercial-scale production, covering the full API lifecycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AGC Pharma Chemicals is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) that develops and manufactures small molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and intermediates on a contract basis. The company delivers integrated end-to-end solutions spanning process development, scale-up, cGMP commercial manufacturing, micronization, HPAPI production, quality management, and supply chain management, supported by facilities in Spain and Japan. It also maintains a catalog of off-patent generic APIs and fluorinated raw materials offered directly.

Product overview

AGC Pharma Chemicals is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in small molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and intermediates. The company operates a unified manufacturing platform with production facilities in Spain and Japan, offering integrated CDMO services from early-phase clinical development through commercial-scale manufacturing. Their product portfolio includes six generic APIs for human pharmaceuticals (Mexiletine Hydrochloride, Gliquidone, Dipyridamole, Telmisartan, Pirenzepine) and one for animal health (Pimobendan), plus fluorinated raw materials. Service offerings encompass Process Development, API Life Cycle Management, Quality Management, Supply Chain Management, and cGMP Manufacturing. Manufacturing capabilities include a state-of-the-art micronization plant (OEB 4 capable), a GMP Kilo Lab for HAPI production up to 7 kg scale, and a major HPAPI facility expansion in Barcelona. The company emphasizes expertise in fluorinated substances and maintains over 20 years without FDA 483 observations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mexiletine Hydrochloride

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years without FDA 483 observations
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2024AGC Pharma Chemicals joined the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI) as a Supplier Partner. PSCI is a pharmaceutical industry initiative focused on improving supply chain sustainability, responsibility, and efficiency across the pharmaceutical sector.
• AbilityPharmaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2024Collaboration between AGC Pharma Chemicals and AbilityPharma for the production of an innovative pancreatic cancer treatment. The partnership combines expertise and experience from both companies to advance a novel cancer therapy through clinical development and toward commercialization.
• CatSci LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2023Strategic alliance between AGC Pharma Chemicals (CDMO) and CatSci Ltd (CRO) providing customers with comprehensive services from preclinical to clinical phases. CatSci, based in Cardiff, Wales, UK, offers early-phase API development services including chemical and analytical development, crystallization programs for solid forms, preformulation studies, and HPAPI development. The partnership enables optimal and agile technology transfer to AGC's production facilities, covering CMC activities from gram to ton scale manufacturing for clinical through commercial production.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lonza: Swiss-headquartered global CDMO leader offering small-molecule APIs, biologics, and cell & gene services. Comparable to AGC as a small-molecule API/intermediates CDMO serving large pharma, but materially larger and broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Curia (formerly Albany Molecular Research): US-headquartered CDMO providing small-molecule API development, manufacturing, and analytical services. Comparable to AGC in early-phase to commercial CDMO scope for small molecules, with broader finished-dose capabilities.
• Axplora (formerly Novasep): European CDMO providing APIs, intermediates, HPAPI, and chromatography services. Comparable to AGC in small-molecule API CDMO services, HPAPI capabilities, and European manufacturing footprint.
• Hovione: Portugal-based privately held CDMO specializing in small-molecule APIs, particle engineering, and HPAPI capabilities. Highly comparable to AGC in scale, scope, geographic profile (Europe), and HPAPI/containment capabilities.
• Siegfried Holding: Swiss-listed CDMO offering small-molecule API manufacturing and finished dosage forms. Comparable to AGC in API/intermediates CDMO services for global pharma, with broader finished-dose capabilities.
• WuXi STA (WuXi AppTec): China-based CDMO specializing in small-molecule APIs, intermediates, and preformulation. Directly comparable on small-molecule API CDMO services and scale-up/commercial manufacturing for pharma and biotech customers.
• EuroAPI: European API manufacturer spun out of Sanofi, offering small-molecule APIs and CDMO services. Directly comparable to AGC in active substance manufacturing, regulatory footprint, and European customer base.
• Cambrex: US-headquartered CDMO focused on small-molecule APIs, intermediates, and finished dosage forms. Closely comparable to AGC in target customers, service breadth, and scale across clinical and commercial API manufacturing.
• Recipharm: European CDMO focused on small-molecule APIs, sterile fill-finish, and solid dosage forms. Comparable to AGC on European small-molecule CDMO positioning and target customer base.

Regional players

• Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services: Japanese CDMO offering small-molecule and biologic manufacturing services. Comparable to AGC as a Japanese-origin pharma CDMO serving global customers, with overlapping small-molecule API capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agc-pharma-chemicals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AGC Pharma Chemicals