Daiichi Sankyo bolsters oncology portfolio with $1bn site expansion

Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo has invested €1 billion ($1.07 billion) to expand its site in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Germany, to develop precision cancer therapies.

Shreeyashi Ojha, Reporter

February 19, 2024

1 Min Read
DepositPhotos/aallm

Situated about 60 kilometers north of Munich, the Pfaffenhofen site focuses on cardiovascular diseases. With this expansion, the firm will develop oncological therapies for the treatment of breast, lung and stomach cancers, with special focus on its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology. 

Construction is underway and the expansion is expected to create 350 jobs. Additionally, Pfaffenhofen innovation center will be completed by 2030.

“By expanding our oncology activities, we aim to make an even greater contribution to medical progress in the future,” said Masahiro Kato, chairman of the management board of Daiichi Sankyo Europe.

“In this way, we can offer patients new treatment options. With its many years of expertise, our Pfaffenhofen site has all the prerequisites for this.” 

The expansion was announced in wake of health minister Karl Lauterbach’s visit to the center. He called the investment “a very good news for patients and for Germany.” Moreover, Lauterbach promised government’s support to the biopharmaceutical firm by “removing bureaucratic hurdles with the medical research act and creating fast approval paths […] enable the use of health data for research projects.” 

Daiichi is focused on the development of ADCs and the expansion will add a building dedicated to it, which is expected to be completed by 2026. 

“The fact that we will increasingly focus on oncological therapies in Pfaffenhofen […] we can make a significant contribution to the increased global demand for ADC cancer therapies,” said Matthias Kühn, site manager at Daiichi Sankyo Europe in Pfaffenhofen. 

In October 2023 Merck & Co. and Daiichi Sankyo partnered in a deal worth up to $22 billion to co-develop and market three ADCs, namely, patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) and raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) – in Phase II, Phase I/II, and Phase I clinical trials, respectively.

About the Author

Shreeyashi Ojha

Reporter, BioProcess Insider

Journalist covering the manufacturing and processing sectors for biopharmaceuticals globally.  

Originally from India, I am a Londoner at heart. I have recently graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London.  

Feel free to reach out to me at: [email protected].

You May Also Like