Axplora celebrates 60 years of innovation at Chasse-sur-Rhône

• More than 300 employees, family members and guests joined the anniversary celebration on Saturday 19 September. 
• Event honors six decades of expertise and the site’s continuing commitment to reliable, responsible manufacturing for customers and patients 

September 25, 2026 – Axplora, a global CDMO partner for complex small molecules and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), has marked 60 years of innovation at its Chasse-sur-Rhône manufacturing site in France. More than 300 employees, family members and guests came together to celebrate the scientific expertise, industrial achievements and generations of people that have shaped the site – and will carry it forward. 

Over six decades, Chasse-sur-Rhône has adapted to customers’ changing needs while maintaining its focus on quality, safety, reliability and scientific excellence. The site now supports around 250 direct jobs, alongside further employment in the local economy, and offers best-in-class CDMO services including process development, scale-up and large-scale manufacturing capabilities supported by a comprehensive toolbox of technologies as Chromatography, low-temperature chemistry and electrochemistry. 

A strong regulatory and sustainability record underpins that expertise. Since 2003, the site has successfully completed 12 inspections: five by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and seven by the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM). In 2026, it earned a Silver rating in its first individual EcoVadis assessment. The site also invests around €5 million each year to meet evolving customer needs, maintain product quality and regulatory compliance, improve safety and deliver on its environmental commitments. This commitment to investment is deeply rooted in Axplora’s approach and has been supported by government programs, including France Relance and France 2030. Together, these efforts help the site advance complex pharmaceutical programs responsibly and reliably. 

Bernard Beraud, Site Director at Axplora Chasse-sur-Rhône, said: “For 60 years, generations of colleagues at Chasse-sur-Rhône have built the expertise, culture and commitment to quality and safety that define the site today. This celebration gave our people the opportunity to share that pride with their families, but it was also about looking forward. Every employee has a role in writing our next chapter and ensuring we continue to deliver reliably and responsibly for customers and patients.” 

The anniversary brought together employees and their families with local and regional elected representatives, industry partners and Jeune & Rose, an association supporting young women affected by breast cancer. Guests included Hanane Mansouri, Member of the French National Assembly for Isère’s 8th constituency; Mickaël Paccaud, Vice President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region; and Christophe Bouvier, Mayor of Chasse-sur-Rhône. 

Deputy Hanane Mansouri presented the site with the French National Assembly Medal during the event, recognizing the work of all the Chasse-sur-Rhône employees. VP Mickaël Paccaud confirmed the region’s full support for our business. Deputy Hanane Mansouri & Mayor Christophe Bouvier and two employees also unveiled an olive tree planted for the anniversary as a symbol of the site’s roots and future growth. 

Guided visits gave families a closer look at the site’s research and development laboratories, production areas and quality control laboratories. Employees also explained the work carried out at Chasse-sur-Rhône and ran a molecule-making workshop, bringing the science to life while showing the care required to operate safely and responsibly. 

A contribution from Ms. Duprey, Jeune & Rose’s representative in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, brought the patient perspective into focus and underlined why the site’s work matters. Across a wide range of therapeutic areas, including oncology and cardiovascular disease, advances in prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment depend on the combined efforts of the healthcare and pharmaceutical ecosystem. Axplora is proud that the expertise and manufacturing at Chasse-sur-Rhône contribute to that wider effort. 

Marine Jacquet, Analytical Projects Specialist in Quality Control, said: “It was a wonderful family day to celebrate the site’s 60th anniversary. The children were thrilled to explore my workplace and enjoy the day. Thank you to the organizers for such a warm and well-run event.” 

Jérôme Macia, Production Supervisor at Axplora since 2007, said: “Showing my children my workplace was a moment of great pride. They could see firsthand what I do and why it matters, especially when you think about the patients around the world who benefit from what we produce here. The patient testimony we heard that day made that sense of purpose even more powerful. Being chosen to help unveil the olive tree was also a very meaningful recognition.” 

Bernard Beraud concluded: “This is a celebration of people as much as a celebration of a site. Our history shows that Chasse-sur-Rhône has always been able to evolve, solve difficult problems and build new expertise. The next chapter will be shaped by the people working here today – through their ideas, their choices and the standards they set every day.” 

About Axplora

Axplora is a trusted manufacturing partner to over 900 of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies, formed from the integration of PharmaZell, Farmabios, and Novasep CDMO—three industry leaders with decades of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Axplora delivers high-quality, reliable, and sustainable solutions across the pharmaceutical value chain.

With deep capabilities in complex chemistry and industrial manufacturing combined with an agile, explorer’s mindset, Axplora supports pharmaceutical and biotech companies in developing and producing life-changing therapies. PharmaZell and Farmabios are renowned for their expertise in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), highly potent compounds, and regulatory excellence, while Novasep CDMO is a leader in small molecule and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) manufacturing while being a pioneer in purification technologies.

Axplora operates 9 API manufacturing sites across Europe and India, providing multi-site capacity to partners worldwide.

For more information, visit axplora.com