Axplora, a global CDMO Partner for complex small molecules and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), has announced a multi-million-euro investment to expand lyophilization (freeze-drying) capabilities at its Le Mans site, strengthening its ability to deliver reliable, efficient and fast ADC manufacturing for biotech and pharmaceutical customers. Axplora also announced the appointment of François Houbart as Head of Site, Le Mans.

The investment directly responds to customer demand for greater control, speed and predictability in ADC development and supply. By adding on-site commercial lyophilization from early 2027 to the R&D capabilities already in place, Axplora will offer integrated manufacturing solutions for the isolation and handling of complex payload and linker intermediates, particularly where stability and safe handling are critical.

With more than 600 ADCs currently in development and clinical timelines accelerating, companies are under increasing pressure to move faster while managing technical, regulatory and supply-chain risk. Axplora’s continued investment in Le Mans is designed to meet this challenge, aligning capacity, capabilities and operational readiness with customer needs for scalable, dependable ADC manufacturing.

The expansion forms part of Axplora’s continued multi-year €30m investment program at Le Mans, building on recent payload and capacity expansions to support the rapid growth of ADC pipelines globally. It also forms part of Axplora’s broader commitment to invest ahead of customer demand, including more than €100 million invested across the Group in 2025. The new lyophilization capabilities are expected to come online in 2027.

François Houbart Appointed Site Head

Alongside this expansion, François Houbart has been appointed Head of Site, Le Mans.

He succeeds Rachel De Luca, who will move into the newly created role of Head of Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) for Axplora’s CDMO Business Unit.

François brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in CDMO drug substance and drug product manufacturing, including senior roles in ADC operations. He is widely recognized for driving performance across quality, safety and operational excellence in highly regulated environments.

“ADC programs are racing against the clock, and our customers need partners they can rely on to deliver with speed, efficiency and consistency,” said Martin Meeson, CEO at Axplora. “This investment strengthens our ability to reduce complexity and risk for customers while supporting the rapid progression of complex ADC programs. François’s leadership will be instrumental as Le Mans continues to scale.”