These compounds are used as payloads (the pharmaceutically active component) and payload-linkers for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a promising emerging cancer therapy.

“Actually, about 80% of the ADCs either approved or under development contains this type of payload, such as Dolastatins or Maytansnoids and there are also other highly strategic classes of cytotoxic payloads, such as anthracyclines, camptothecin and calicheamicin,” said Giorgio Bertolini, senior vice president R&D at Olon.

Olon is investing €22 million in the new building that will house a production facility, quality control and R&D areas. The closed-loop system will include all steps of the process – from synthesis, isolation, drying through to analysis.

The first phase of construction, which comprises building the payload R&D area, has started, and completion is scheduled by the first half of 2024. Subsequently, Olon will move on to phase two, which will be to finalize the production line by creating the quality control and GMP manufacturing areas.

The Milan-based company said the decline of the blockbuster, high-volume model in oncology and the rise of niche therapies based on precision medicine are creating new opportunities for continued growth.

This past February, Olon completed an expansion of pilot plant capacity for highly active APIs at Rodano and last month, the company announced plans to invest €100 million during 2023 to increase production capacity, especially at its Mulazzano site.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist