Federal and state leaders join CordenPharma to celebrate a major investment in expanding U.S.-based peptide manufacturing capacity and strengthening America’s pharmaceutical supply chain
- The expansion strengthens CordenPharma’s U.S. peptide manufacturing network, adding significant upstream peptide synthesis capacity in South Carolina to complement downstream large-scale peptide operations in Colorado.
- Together, CordenPharma’s South Carolina and Colorado facilities are expected to represent more than $1.4 billion in U.S. peptide manufacturing investment, supporting growing demand for peptide APIs used in medicines treating obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other serious diseases.
- The project will create more than 200 high-quality U.S. jobs while strengthening domestic pharmaceutical supply chains and expanding American manufacturing capabilities for next-generation peptide therapeutics.
NORTH AUGUSTA, SOUTH CAROLINA, U.S. – September 23, 2026
CordenPharma, a leading global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), today announced the groundbreaking of a major expansion project at its North Augusta, South Carolina facility. The ceremony, held on September 22, 2026, marks an important milestone in the company’s strategy to expand U.S.-based peptide manufacturing capacity and support growing global demand for peptide therapeutics.
The investment exceeds $200 million and forms part of CordenPharma’s broader commitment to expand its U.S. peptide business, which is expected to reach more than $1.4 billion in total investment across its South Carolina and Colorado operations. The project strengthens domestic production capabilities for peptide Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), including those used in GLP-1 therapies and other innovative treatments addressing some of the world’s most significant healthcare challenges.
Dignitaries joining the celebration included South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Steven Haines and North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams, together with CordenPharma leadership, employees, media and community stakeholders.
Combined with CordenPharma’s large-scale peptide production in Colorado, the expanded South Carolina site will provide our client-partners:
- 68,000 square feet of purpose-built commercial manufacturing space supporting clinical to commercial peptide programs
- Flexible SPPS, LPPS and hybrid platforms engineered for long, complex, and high-purity peptide APIs
- Shorter lead times and accelerated tech transfer
- Dual-site flexibility and business continuity that will strengthen supply security and mitigate risk
The project is expected to create more than 200 new high-quality jobs in South Carolina while contributing to the continued growth of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, helping to strengthen the U.S. healthcare supply chain and support the production of critical therapies for patients worldwide.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster commented: “South Carolina continues to attract world-class life sciences investment because companies know they will find the talented workforce, business environment, and partnership needed to succeed. CordenPharma’s expansion in North Augusta will create high-quality jobs, strengthen our state’s thriving pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, and further establish South Carolina as a leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation.”
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Steven Haines commented: “President Trump’s America First agenda is clear: the medicines Americans depend on should be made in America, by American workers. CordenPharma’s investment answers that call by expanding critical pharmaceutical manufacturing on American soil, creating more than 200 high-quality jobs, and reducing our dependence on foreign supply chains. This project strengthens our economic and national security and helps ensure that America continues to lead the world in advanced manufacturing.”
Paul Perreault, Chairman of the Board for CordenPharma, commented: “We are investing today for future demand of innovative breakthrough medicines. Medical professionals and patients expect and deserve our expertise to deliver the manufacturing capacity for these life-changing medicines. This expansion strengthens our ability to help customers bring the next generation of peptide medicines to market faster, reliably, and at scale, reinforcing CordenPharma’s long-term commitment to expanding advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States.”
As peptide therapeutics continue to transform the treatment landscape across multiple disease areas, CordenPharma remains committed to investing ahead of market demand and building the manufacturing infrastructure required to deliver reliable, scalable peptide supply for customers and patients worldwide.
About CordenPharma
CordenPharma is a CDMO supporting and partnering with biotech and pharma innovators of complex modalities in the advancement of their drug development lifecycle. Harnessing the collective expertise of the teams across its globally integrated facility network, CordenPharma provides bespoke outsourcing services spanning the complete supply chain, from early clinical-phase development to commercialization.
With scientific expertise and partnership at its core, CordenPharma provides customers with high-value, end-to-end services with a strategic focus on Peptides, Small Molecules (both Highly Potent and Regular Potency), customized Lipid Excipients, Lipid NanoParticles (LNPs), sterile Injectables, and Oligonucleotides
The CordenPharma Group is currently comprised of 13 facilities across Europe, North America and Asia with more than 3500 employees. In the 2025 financial year, the organization generated sales of €960 million. In 2022, CordenPharma was acquired by Astorg to accelerate its development and further strengthen its capabilities in the CDMO space.
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CordenPharma Media Contacts North America: abby.thompson@cordenpharma.com I Europe & Asia: eva.schaub@cordenpharma.com