ESTEVE CDMO, a global CDMO specializing in high-quality small-molecule APIs and pharmaceutical intermediates, began a $15.5 million expansion to enhance production capabilities and associated space at its newly acquired North American facility in Morton Grove, IL.

Scheduled for completion in 2026, the investment includes reactor upgrades to add powder transfer systems, and distillation tanks. Jacket insulation and a single thermal fluid circuit will be added to enhance thermal management and broaden the reactors’ operational temperature range to between -15C and +140C (5 to 284F) and simplify validation under GMP conditions.

Additionally, the site will implement cleanroom and ancillary equipment upgrades including a computer-based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor, control, and record manufacturing processes in real time, and installation of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems that will safeguard the efficient operation of vital quality control labs.

ESTEVE acquired the facility in Morton Grove in July 2025 to support of pharma and biopharma innovators with complex molecules. The site expands its early-stage development capabilities and services to include process R&D, analytical and stability testing, cGMP API manufacturing, chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) support.

“This investment reflects an important step in building a strong and sustainable U.S. platform for ESTEVE CDMO,” said Andrea Oro, Managing Director US. “It strengthens our ability to support customers earlier in development and accompany their programs through GMP manufacturing, with the technical depth, reliability, and collaborative mindset they expect from a long-term CDMO partner.”