Top 5 ADC Manufacturers Offering Contract Services

Published: November 2025

Over the last decade, the healthcare industry has experienced a significant rise in the global cancer burden, primarily driven by population growth and an ageing demographic. To address this growing challenge, industry stakeholders are increasingly focused on developing targeted and efficient treatment approaches. Among the most promising innovations is the emergence of antibody drug conjugate, a novel therapeutic modality that has demonstrated strong potential in delivering precise treatment across a range of oncological indications. Owing to the favorable clinical profiles, including low immunogenicity, extended circulation half-life, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy, ADCs have gained considerable attention. Currently, the clinical pipeline comprises nearly 350 candidates, with 46 therapeutics having already secured regulatory approval worldwide.

Despite these advancements, ADC manufacturing continues to present considerable challenges due to the complexity of integrating multiple process components, including antibody, linker, and cytotoxic payload. Further, the drug / linker side reactions, contamination risks, toxicity concerns, and scale-up limitations complicate the manufacturing of antibody drug conjugates. Consequently, many developers prefer to outsource manufacturing operations to specialized contract development and manufacturing organizations. Outsourcing not only provides access to advanced technologies and technical expertise but also enables cost efficiencies and streamlined scale-up. Notably, several ADC manufacturers are positioning themselves as integrated one-stop service providers, offering end-to-end solutions to minimize challenges related to technology transfer and commercialization. Given the rising demand for ADCs, the ADC contract manufacturing market is poised for substantial growth.

Roots Analysis has conducted an exhaustive study on ADC Contract Manufacturing Market featuring the current market landscape and future opportunity for the service providers involved in the ADC contract manufacturing domain, over a span of 10 years.

Top Five Promising ADC Contract Manufacturing Service Providers

Lonza
Formosa Laboratories
Abzena
Cambrex
Sterling Pharma Solutions

The figure below highlights the top five ADC manufacturers offering contract services:

Top 5 Manufacturers ADC Contract Manufacturing Market

Interested in exploring all ~35 ADC contract manufacturers and their recent initiatives?

Discover Below the Details on Top 5 ADC Manufacturers Offering Contract Services

Let us dive deep into the details of the top 5 ADC manufacturers offering contract services. It is essential to note that the selection of top players can differ substantially according to the defined criteria.

1. Lonza

Company Overview

Lonza, headquartered in Switzerland claims to be one of the leading contract manufacturers in the world, with expertise in monoclonal antibodies and affiliated products as well. The company offers comprehensive end-to-end services for ADC development and manufacturing, addressing industry challenges through services spanning from concept to commercialization, including payload-linker synthesis, conjugation, and fill-finish. In 2023, Lonza acquired Synaffix to enhance its proprietary technologies and streamline supply chains. Further, it is worth mentioning that the company operates through a global network of more than 120 sites and offices.

List of ADC Related Services and Location of Manufacturing Facilities

ADC Manufacturing Services: Antibody Manufacturing, HPAPI and Payload Synthesis, Linker Manufacturing, Conjugation, and Purification
Additional Services Offered: Proof-of-Concept Studies, Process Development and Scale-up, and Analytical Development
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Number of Antibody Manufacturing Facilities: 3
Location of Antibody Manufacturing Facilities: UK, Singapore and Switzerland
Number of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: 1
Location of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: Switzerland
Number of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: 1
Location of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: Switzerland
Number of Conjugation Facilities: 1
Location of Conjugation Facilities: Switzerland
Number of Fill / Finish Facilities: 1
Location of Fill / Finish Facilities: Switzerland

Recent Development:

In January 2025, Synaffix (a part of Lonza) entered into a technology licensing deal with Boehringer Ingelheim. Under the terms of this agreement, Synaffix will grant Boehringer Ingelheim access to its bespoke ADC technologies for an undisclosed number of targets.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Lonza and other ADC contract manufacturing service providers, access full report.

2. Formosa Laboratories

Company Overview

Formosa Laboratories is a Taiwan based, GMP regulated CDMO. It claims to offer a comprehensive suite of manufacturing services ranging from APIs and antibody-drug conjugates to cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic injectables. The company provides small molecules, biologics and ADC services across all stages of development, under cytotoxic control and compliance from regulatory authorities to its clients. It is worth highlighting that the company follows a one-stop shop model for offering ADC-related services. Further, in addition to the component manufacturing and bioconjugation, the company is engaged in offering full characterization for ADCs.

List of ADC Related Services and Location of Manufacturing Facilities

ADC Manufacturing Services: Antibody Manufacturing, HPAPI and Payload Synthesis, Linker Manufacturing, Conjugation, and Fill / Finish
Additional Services Offered: Process Development and Scale-up, and Analytical Development
Scale of Operation: Clinical and Commercial
List of ADC Related Services and Location of Manufacturing Facilities 1
Location of Antibody Manufacturing Facilities: Taiwan
Number of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: 1
Location of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: Taiwan
Number of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: 1
Location of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: Taiwan
Number of Conjugation Facilities: 1
Location of Conjugation Facilities: Taiwan
Number of Fill / Finish Facilities: 1
Location of Fill / Finish Facilities: Taiwan

Recent Development:

In May 2025, Formosa Laboratories entered into a strategic agreement with Almac Discovery for the development and commercialization of ALM-401. The company will facilitate the next steps CMC & drug development. Earlier, in June 2024, Formosa Laboratories acquired Synchem, a contract research laboratory with an aim to enhance its CDMO presence in North America, leveraging SynChem's expertise in organic synthesis and process development, especially in ADC payloads and linkers.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Formosa Loaboratories and other ADC contract manufacturing service providers, access full report.

3. Abzena

Company Overview

Abzena is a US-based firm that claims to offer an array of ADC development services, ranging from discovery to commercial launch of the products. Further, it is worth highlighting that Abzena actively collaborates with various organizations and academic institutions across the world (which includes the majority of the top 20 biopharmaceutical companies) in order to facilitate research, development and manufacturing of targeted and effective treatments for patients.

List of ADC Related Services and Location of Manufacturing Facilities

ADC Manufacturing Services: Antibody Manufacturing, HPAPI and Payload Synthesis, Linker Manufacturing, Conjugation, Purification, and Fill / Finish
Additional Services Offered: Proof-of-Concept Studies, Process Development and Scale-up, and Analytical Development
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Number of Antibody Manufacturing Facilities: 2
Location of Antibody Manufacturing Facilities: US and UK
Number of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: 2
Location of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: US (2)
Number of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: 2
Location of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: US (2)
Number of Conjugation Facilities: 2
Location of Conjugation Facilities: US, UK
Number of Fill / Finish Facilities: 1
Location of Fill / Finish Facilities: US

Recent Development:

In November 2024, Abzena has expanded its analytical capabilities at its Cambridge, UK, and San Diego, CA sites to include GMP cell-based potency assays. This capacity expansion enables Abzena to quantitatively measure the biological activity and cytotoxicity of biopharmaceuticals, such as ADCs, supporting both GMP product release and stability testing.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Abzena and other ADC contract manufacturing service providers, access full report.

4. Cambrex

Company Overview

Cambrex claims to be a leading global CDMO serving the pharmaceutical and biotech industries with over four decades of experience. The company specializes in drug substance development, manufacturing, and analytical services, leveraging advanced technologies, such as continuous flow, solid-state science, and highly potent APIs. With a network of manufacturing and R&D facilities across North America, Cambrex is well-positioned to support the growing demand for antibody drug conjugates and other complex molecules in this market.

List of ADC Related Services and Location of Manufacturing Facilities

ADC Manufacturing Services: Antibody Manufacturing, HPAPI and Payload Synthesis, Linker Manufacturing, Conjugation, and Fill / Finish
Additional Services Offered: Proof-of-Concept Studies, Process Development and Scale-up, and Analytical Development
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Number of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: 2
Location of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: US (2)
Number of Fill / Finish Facilities: 1
Location of Fill / Finish Facilities: Canada

Recent Development:

In October 2025, Cambrex announced a $120 million investment to expand its US operations, including a 40% increase in large-scale manufacturing capacity at its Iowa site. This expansion focuses on API development and manufacturing, including peptide therapeutics, supporting drug manufacturing in the US.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Cambrex and other ADC contract manufacturing service providers, access full report.

5. Sterling Pharma Solutions

Company Overview

Sterling Pharma Solutions is a UK-based company that claims to provide services for the development of small molecules from pre-clinical to commercial scales. It is worth mentioning that the company specializes in antibody-drug conjugates and offers end-to-end solutions from discovery and development to preclinical and clinical cGMP manufacturing. In April 2021, the company acquired ADC Biotechnology in order to expand its service portfolio.

List of ADC Related Services and Location of Manufacturing Facilities

ADC Manufacturing Services: HPAPI and Payload Synthesis, Linker Manufacturing, Conjugation, and Purification
Additional Services Offered: Proof-of-Concept Studies, Process Development and Scale-up, and Analytical Development
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Number of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: 1
Location of HPAPI and Payload Synthesis Facilities: US
Number of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: 1
Location of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: US
Number of Conjugation Facilities: 1
Location of Conjugation Facilities: UK
Number of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: 1
Location of Linker Manufacturing Facilities: UK

Recent Development:

In June 2025, Sterling Pharma Solutions entered into an agreement with Kivu Bioscience for the production of cGMP clinical material for KIVU-107.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Sterling Pharma Solutions and other ADC contract manufacturing service providers, access full report.

What About Other ADC Contract Manufacturing Companies Around the World?

The above article features the top five ADC contract manufacturers selected from a pool of ~35 manufacturers that we have compiled. If you're interested, you can download the Sample Report on this topic by Roots Analysis. For personalized assistance in identifying the most relevant solutions based on your specific criteria, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at sales@rootsanalysis.com.

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