Top 5 Biopharmaceutical Excipient Manufacturers

Published: July 2026

Biopharmaceutical excipients are no longer viewed merely as inactive formulation ingredients. In protein therapeutics, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, viral vectors and nucleic acid-based medicines, excipients help preserve molecular structure, control pH and tonicity, prevent aggregation, reduce interfacial stress and support manufacturability. The selection of an unsuitable excipient grade can affect stability, shelf life, process consistency and, ultimately, the performance of a biological drug.

The requirements placed on excipient suppliers are therefore becoming increasingly demanding. Biopharmaceutical developers require materials with tightly controlled impurity profiles, low bioburden and endotoxin levels, reliable batch-to-batch consistency, transparent supply chains and extensive regulatory documentation. They also increasingly expect technical assistance during excipient screening, formulation optimization, process scale-up and commercial manufacturing.

Several established ingredient companies have responded by creating dedicated biopharma-grade portfolios, investing in good manufacturing practice infrastructure and expanding into high-purity surfactants, amino acids, sugars, polyols, polymers, vaccine adjuvants and lipid-based delivery materials. Based on portfolio breadth, relevance to biologic formulations, manufacturing and quality capabilities, regulatory support, global reach and recent investment activity, the following companies stand out as five leading biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers.

Roots Analysis has conducted an exhaustive study on Biopharmaceutical Excipient Manufacturing Market featuring the current market landscape and future opportunities for the companies engaged in healthcare, over the next decade.

Top Five Leading Biopharmaceutical Excipient Manufacturers

BASF
Croda Pharma
Evonik
Merck KGaA
Roquette

Top 5 Players to Watch Biopharmaceutical Excipients Manufacturing Market

Interested in exploring other players involved in manufacturing biopharmaceutical excipients, along with their recent initiatives?

Discover Below the Details on the Top 5 Biopharmaceutical Excipient Manufacturers

Let us dive deep into the details of the top biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers. It is essential to note that the selection of top players can differ substantially according to the defined criteria.

1. BASF

Company Overview

BASF is one of the most diversified suppliers of pharmaceutical ingredients, with platforms covering oral, topical and parenteral formulations, solubilization and biopharma ingredients. Its broad chemistry base, formulation knowledge and global technical resources allow it to support both conventional medicines and biologic products. The company also provides digital tools and regulatory information intended to help formulators select materials and develop efficient and reliable formulations.

Biopharmaceutical Excipient Capabilities and Manufacturing Details

The section provides information on the various biopharmaceutical excipients being manufactured by BASF, along with details on manufacturing facilities, scale of operation, type of excipients (based on chemical composition, function, and chemical structure), type of formulation, and type of biologic.

Number of Facilities: 4
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Composition: Lipids, Proteins / Amino Acids, and Polymers
Type of Excipients based on Function: Stabilizers, Surfactants, and Stabilizer Enhancers
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Structure: Organic
Type of Formulation: Solid and Liquid / Parenteral
Type of Biologic: Cell Therapies, Proteins / Peptides, Vaccines, and Antibodies

Recent Developments

In April 2026, BASF expanded its formulation-support resources by publishing an updated Kolliphor® Poloxamer Brochure. The document provides technical information on standard, micro and bioprocessing poloxamer grades, helping pharmaceutical developers evaluate product characteristics, regulatory compliance, packaging, stability and handling considerations.

To know more about the recent initiatives of BASF and other biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers, access full report.

2. Croda Pharma

Company Overview

Croda Pharma has positioned its pharmaceutical business around the delivery of active ingredients, with particular emphasis on biologics. Its capabilities span specialty excipients, vaccine adjuvant systems and lipid technologies for protein, peptide and nucleic acid delivery. Croda supports customers from research and formulation development through commercial manufacturing, combining high-purity ingredient production with application and formulation expertise.

Biopharmaceutical Excipient Capabilities and Manufacturing Details

The section provides information on the various biopharmaceutical excipients being manufactured by Croda Pharma, along with details on manufacturing facilities, scale of operation, type of excipients (based on chemical composition, function, and chemical structure), type of formulation, and type of biologic.

Number of Facilities: 5
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Composition: Lipids, Salts, Polymers, and Others
Type of Excipients based on Function: Surfactants, Drug Delivery Systems, and Others
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Structure: Inorganic and Organic
Type of Formulation: Liquid / Parenteral
Type of Biologic: Vaccines and Proteins / Peptides

Recent Developments

In June 2026, Croda’s Avanti Polar Lipids subsidiary entered into a strategic collaboration with NovoArc to expand access to advanced lipid technologies. The collaboration supplements Avanti’s portfolio of more than 2,000 research lipids with materials intended to improve the stability and flexibility of drug-delivery systems. The technologies may support the development of mRNA, protein and peptide therapeutics, including potential alternative administration routes for complex molecules traditionally delivered by injection.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Croda Pharma and other biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers, access full report.

3. Evonik

Company Overview

Evonik combines excipient manufacturing with formulation development and contract development and manufacturing services. This integrated model is particularly relevant for complex parenteral products, where excipient properties, formulation design, process development, aseptic manufacturing and scale-up are closely interconnected. Its portfolio addresses conventional oral delivery as well as long-acting injectables, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids and synthetic vaccines.

Biopharmaceutical Excipient Capabilities and Manufacturing Details

The section provides information on the various biopharmaceutical excipients being manufactured by Evonik, along with details on manufacturing facilities, scale of operation, type of excipients (based on chemical composition, function, and chemical structure), type of formulation, and type of biologic.

Number of Facilities: 3
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical and Commercial
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Composition: Lipids, Proteins / Amino Acids, and Polymers
Type of Excipients based on Function: Buffering Agents, Surfactants, Solubility Enhancer, Drug Delivery Systems, and Others
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Structure: Organic
Type of Formulation: Solid and Liquid / Parenteral
Type of Biologic: Proteins / Peptides, Cell Therapies, and Gene Therapies

Recent Developments

In July 2026, Evonik appointed Brenntag Specialties Pharma as the exclusive distributor for its REXIM® GMP-grade amino acids across most European markets. The agreement expands regional access to amino acids used as pharmaceutical excipients and as nutrient components in cell-culture media. It also combines Evonik’s European production and manufacturing capabilities with Brenntag’s local distribution, regulatory and technical-support network.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Evonik and other biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers, access full report.

4. Merck KGaA

Company Overview

Merck KGaA’s Life Science business, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the United States and Canada, supplies process chemicals, raw materials, excipients and manufacturing technologies across the biopharmaceutical value chain. Its position is strengthened by the ability to combine formulation ingredients with filtration, chromatography, single-use processing, testing and process-development solutions.

Biopharmaceutical Excipient Capabilities and Manufacturing Details

The section provides information on the various biopharmaceutical excipients being manufactured by Merck KGaA, along with details on manufacturing facilities, scale of operation, type of excipients (based on chemical composition, function, and chemical structure), type of formulation, and type of biologic.

Number of Facilities: 4
Scale of Operation: Commercial
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Composition: Lipids, Polyols (Mannitol, Sorbitol, and Others), Sucrose, Dextrose, Starch, Trehalose, Proteins / Amino Acids, Salts, Polymers, and Others
Type of Excipients based on Function: Bulking Agents, Stabilizers, Buffering Agents, Tonicity Modifiers, Surfactants, Antioxidants, Chelators, Antimicrobials, and Others
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Structure: Inorganic and Organic
Type of Formulation: Solid and Liquid / Parenteral
Type of Biologic: Vaccines, Cell Therapies, Blood Products, Antibodies, and Proteins / Peptides

Recent Developments

In July 2026, Merck opened a €25 million BioReliance® testing facility at its Darmstadt headquarters. Although the facility is not dedicated to excipient manufacturing, it strengthens Merck’s broader biopharmaceutical support capabilities by expanding European drug-substance and drug-product release testing and GMP-compliant stability studies.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Merck KGaA and biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers, access full report.

5. Roquette

Company Overview

Roquette is a long-established manufacturer of plant-based ingredients and pharmaceutical excipients. Its biopharma portfolio is supported by vertically integrated production, formulation expertise, technical services and global regulatory support. The company supplies excipients for biologics, injectable products and lyophilized formulations, with particular strength in cyclodextrins, sugars and polyols.

Biopharmaceutical Excipient Capabilities and Manufacturing Details

The section provides information on the various biopharmaceutical excipients being manufactured by Roquette, along with details on manufacturing facilities, scale of operation, type of excipients (based on chemical composition, function, and chemical structure), type of formulation, and type of biologic.

Number of Facilities: 18
Scale of Operation: Preclinical, Clinical, and Commercial
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Composition: Polyols (Mannitol and Sorbitol), Dextrose, and Others
Type of Excipients based on Function: Bulking Agents, Stabilizers, and Tonicity Modifiers
Type of Excipients based on Chemical Structure: Organic
Type of Formulation: Liquid / Parenteral
Type of Biologic: Proteins / Peptides and Cell Therapies

Recent Developments

In June 2026, Roquette showcased its expanded pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical excipient portfolio at CPHI China 2026. The highlighted offering included KLEPTOSE® beta-cyclodextrins for protein stabilization, NOVAMATRIX-3D™ alginate foams for three-dimensional cell culture and PEARLITOL® mannitol manufactured in China. The announcement also emphasized Roquette’s integrated support from early formulation development through commercial manufacturing scale-up.

To know more about the recent initiatives of Roquette and other biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers, access full report.

What About Other Biopharmaceutical Excipient Manufacturers around the World?

The above article features the top five biopharmaceutical excipient manufacturers selected from a pool of other 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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