CDMO giant Lonza unveiled plans to expand hard gelatin capsule production capacity at plants in India and China a week after announcing its intent to shed its capsules and health ingredients (CHI) division.
As part of its “One Lonza” corporate restructuring program announced Dec. 12, the company said it would look to part ways with the CHI business “at the appropriate time.” Back in July, Lonza reported that CHI sales dipped about 6% during the first six months of 2024, in part due to “continued destocking” in the pharma capsule sector.
Just a week after debuting the restructuring plans, the company said in a Dec. 19 release it would expand capsule production capacity at its manufacturing sites in Rewari, India, and Suzhou, China.
Financial details of the project weren’t disclosed.
“Hard gelatin capsules represent an important pharmaceutical dosage form that is well tolerated by patients and consumers,” Aanchal Tomar, Asia-Pacific regional business unit head for Lonza CHI, said in the release. “By enhancing our manufacturing capabilities, we aim to provide even greater flexibility and reliability.”
The Suzhou and Rewari sites began operating this year, and Lonza expects the additional lines to start production in the third quarter of 2025.
Lonza has said its plans to have the new company structure in place by the second quarter of 2025.