Neuland begins operations at first module of commercial peptide facility

New module offers 7,000L reactor capacity and supports complex peptide APIs, while second module planning advances with customer requirements

Neuland Laboratories has commenced operations at the first of four planned modules at its commercial peptide manufacturing site, marking a significant step in the company’s peptide manufacturing expansion.

The first module provides a total reactor capacity of 7,000L, comprising 750L of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and 6,250L of liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS). 

The facility is designed to support customer programmes ranging from small-scale production to multikilogram quantities of complete peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including complex and long-chain peptides, as well as commercial-scale production of crude peptides.

The SPPS and LPPS reactors are housed in separate suites to enable parallel operations. The module is also equipped with three DAC columns—one 45 cm and two 60 cm—and two lyophilisers with capacities of 100L and 200L.

Neuland has invested $30 million in the first module. With foundational infrastructure for the second module already established, the company expects to begin work ahead of its original timeline once customer requirements are finalised. 

The configuration, instrumentation and capacity of the second module are being defined in collaboration with the customer projects expected to anchor the expanded capability.

The second module is planned to provide total reactor capacity of up to 18,000L, including three 5,000L LPPS reactors, either a 1,000L or 2,000L SPPS reactor, and smaller reactors of up to 1,000L. The flexible design is intended to accommodate peptide development and manufacturing programmes across different production scales.

Neuland said the indications covered by its partner programmes are broadening beyond obesity and metabolic diseases, with oncology emerging as an increasingly active area of early-stage development. The expansion comes as more biotechnology companies seek access to specialised outsourced development and commercial manufacturing capacity for growing peptide pipelines.

Saharsh Davuluri, CEO and Managing Director, Neuland Laboratories, said, “Our goal is to ensure we have the capacity to meet customer demand not just over the next 24 months, but over the next decade, as we deepen our strategic partnerships with leading pharma and biotech companies.”

Module one is supported by a team of nearly 212 peptide specialists. The development follows strong recent growth at the CDMO, with revenues rising 116.3% in its most recent quarterly results, driven primarily by increased commercial contracts and a growing number of clinical projects.