Ofichem, a European CDMO specialising in high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and integrated drug development and manufacturing services, announces the acquisition of Meribel Pharma Solutions’ site in Uppsala, Sweden.
This strategic step enhances Ofichem’s ability to support early-phase, IP-driven drug substance development, expanding its non-GMP capabilities in the small-molecule space.
The Uppsala site, formerly part of Recipharm and known as OT Chemistry, is home to 20 employees and specialises in small-scale, early-phase development work.
The expertise on offer at the facility spans traditional small molecule and emerging modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), oligonucleotides and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), expanding Ofichem’s non-GMP capabilities in early-stage development.
“This acquisition is a strategic building block in Ofichem’s broader transformation,” said Dr Weite H. Oldenziel, CEO and owner of Ofichem.
“Our goal is to serve innovative biotech companies with agile, early-stage development solutions, and this site offers precisely the expertise and technologies we need to deliver on that vision.”
The acquisition reflects Ofichem’s evolving focus, building on its strong foundation serving generics and mid-sized pharma to now invest more deeply in services for biotech innovators.
The site will operate in close co-ordination with Ofichem’s GMP manufacturing operations in Ter Apel, the Netherlands, creating a seamless path from early stage research to commercial production.
The acquisition also provides access to a portfolio of more than 40 biotech and mid-sized pharma clients, expanding Ofichem’s reach across the Nordic countries.
“We’re delighted to welcome the Uppsala team into the Ofichem family, and to expand our reach across new geographies and technologies,” said Alessia Cogotti, Managing Director at Ofichem.
“This site strengthens our ability to support clients from idea to implementation, and everything in between.”
“We are proud to have found in Ofichem a reliable and respected partner who shares our values and unwavering focus on customer success,” said Bruce Vielle, CEO of Meribel.
“This agreement is not only a positive step for both organisations but especially for the dedicated team and ongoing projects at the Uppsala site.
“Strategically, the partnership enables Meribel to sharpen its focus on advancing our drug product solutions, an area where we see increasing demand and opportunity."
"Importantly, we remain committed to ensuring continuity and support for our customers throughout this transition and beyond. We’re confident this collaboration will deliver long-term value for everyone involved.”
The Meribel acquisition is a small-scale, strategic add-on and the site will be integrated into Ofichem’s matrix structure, aligning under group-level leadership in operations, quality, research and development, and business development.
Looking ahead, Ofichem plans to further grow and expand its early stage drug substance network, including evaluations of larger-scale GMP manufacturing sites in Europe and North America.