The basics:

• Hovione completes initial phase of $100M US expansion in East Windsor
• More than doubles spray drying capacity for drug development
• 31,000-sf facility includes two size-3 spray dryers; GMP operations begin Q2 2026
• Future 125,000-sf greenfield site will add advanced pharma technologies

Hovione, a global contract development and manufacturing organization, has completed the initial phase of a $100 million investment cycle to expand U.S. operations at its East Windsor site.

The expansion marks a major milestone in the company’s long-term growth strategy. It also more than doubles Hovione’s spray-drying capacity in the United States.

The critical solubility enhancement technology can improve the development of up to 70% of drugs, as well as strengthens the ability to provide integrated solutions from drug substance to finished product.

Founded more than 60 years ago, Hovione is headquartered in Portugal. It operates U.S. Food and Drug Administration-inspected facilities in the U.S., Portugal, Ireland and China. The company has a fully integrated offering of services for drug substances, drug product intermediates and drug products.

Hovione provides customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs. Its output includes highly potent compounds and customized product solutions across the entire drug life cycle.

Key expansion details:

• Initial phase includes a 31,000-square-foot building that will house two size-3 spray dryers designed for production of amorphous solid dispersions
• Construction is underway at the site. GMP operations expect to start in the second quarter of 2026
• Upon completion, the world-class campus will cover more than 200,000 square feet. Additionally, it will integrate the latest technologies within sustainably designed facilities
• Hovione also acquired additional adjacent land to enable future growth. Plans for the 125,000-square-foot greenfield site include large-scale production capabilities such as continuous and batch tableting, along with the introduction of:
  • Next-generation pharmaceutical technologies
  • Enhanced quality control
  • Expanded R&D functions

“Since launching our New Jersey operations in 2002, Hovione has been one of the longest established European CDMOs in the United States,” said Hovione CEO Jean-Luc Herbeaux. “This investment reinforces Hovione’s leadership in spray drying – a core technology platform where we have built extensive know-how and capabilities.

“By continuing to advance our platforms and expand capacity in the U.S., we are strengthening the foundation that enables our partners to bring complex medicines to patients more efficiently.”

Big picture

Herbeaux stressed the investment aims to address growing customer demand for U.S.-based capacity, as well as integrated solutions that shorten development timelines and reduce tech transfer complexity.

“By consolidating development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing within a single quality and governance framework, we provide customers with seamless execution from drug substance to drug product,” said Herbeaux.

“This expansion in New Jersey marks a significant step in extending our capabilities in the U.S., which go far beyond machine time or equipment capacity,” said David Basile, vice president of technical operations – Americas at Hovione. “We are integrating our teams, specialized assets, proprietary technologies, and digital systems to deliver distinctive end-to-end ASD and continuous tableting platforms to our customers.

This expansion in New Jersey marks a significant step in extending our capabilities in the U.S., which go far beyond machine time or equipment capacity.
– David Basile, VP, technical operations – Americas at Hovione

“Through our new strategic engagement model, customers can gain privileged access to innovation and assets that accelerate their programs and create long-term value.”

The East Windsor expansion is part of Hovione’s broader international growth plan. That agenda also includes capacity investments in Ireland and Portugal.

The company says that, together, these initiatives will create a harmonized global network of autonomous sites that support – and span – the development and commercialization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), drug product intermediates and drug products.