Axplora Strategy Teardown: A Podcast

In a recent episode of the PharmaSource podcast, Arul Ramadurai, Chief Commercial Officer at
Axplora, discusses the company’s strategic focus on high-growth therapeutic areas and its customer-
driven investment philosophy.

Axplora has positioned itself in two of the fastest-growing therapeutic areas: GLP-1 peptides and
antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The company recently announced a €50 million investment in its
Mourenx site in Southwest France for GLP-1 manufacturing capabilities. This investment enhances
the site’s position as a center of excellence for contract manufacturing of APIs and drug substances
for FDA-approved biologics.

In the ADC space, Axplora’s dominance is clear. They currently supply 40% of the world’s marketed
ADCs and 50% of FDA-approved ADCs, making them a global leader. The company recently
announced a new cutting-edge payload manufacturing workshop at their Le Mans site to further
strengthen this position.

Axplora’s expansion strategy is distinctly customer-led rather than speculative. The company works
closely with customers in North America, Europe, and Asia to develop solutions for capacity needs in
the coming years. This approach has led to multiple strategic investments across Europe, including
expansions at the Mourenx site, a new workshop for ADCs in Le Mans, and ongoing investments in
Leverkusen, Germany.

Axplora’s technical edge in both GLP-1 and ADC manufacturing stems from its heritage. The
company’s history in chromatography, particularly from the Novasep business, positions it as a leader
in purification processes. This expertise is critical in manufacturing complex molecules like GLP-1s
and ADCs, which require advanced purification and industrial chemistry capabilities.

To listen to the full podcast episode, visit: Axplora Strategy Teardown: Investing in High-Growth
Therapeutics with a Customer-Driven Approach