A multi-million dollar expansion with new ownership and new jobs is now in place for a production facility that has been part of the local economy for 20 years.
AmbioPharm, Inc. will invest nearly $119 million into its campus on Dittman Court in North Augusta. The expansion will include an additional manufacturing building and create more than 200 jobs.
Details of the major investment were outlined in a news release from Gov. Henry McMaster (R).
“AmbioPharm’s expansion in Aiken County is a testament to the advantages of doing business in South Carolina and the opportunities available here. By adding 202 new jobs, the company is strengthening our local economy and deepening our state’s position as a global leader in manufacturing,” said McMaster.
Less than a month ago, CordenPharma, a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), announced an agreement with AmbioPharm to acquire its facilities in North Augusta and Shanghai, China. CordenPharma is based in Switzerland.
“This acquisition significantly bolsters CordenPharma’s Peptides Platform with complementary capabilities and advances our strategic objective to serve as a leading peptide manufacturing partner,” said Dr. Michael Quirmbach, President & CEO of CordenPharma Group, in announcing the agreement. “AmbioPharm’s capabilities perfectly complement our existing peptide expertise, helping us to broaden the ways we support customers from development to commercialization.”
CordenPharma currently has a network of 11 sites in Europe and North America. The company said the acquisition of AmbioPharm’s facility will work in conjunction with the CordenPharma operation in Colorado.
AmbioPharm CEO Brian Gregg said joining CordenPharma marks an exciting new chapter for his North Augusta-based company. It also keeps the company focused on patients who rely on medicines developed with peptides.
“Together, we will be able to offer customers broader technical capabilities, increased global capacity, and a highly reliable Peptides Platform to support the development and commercialization of peptide-based medicines,” he said. “We have heard clearly that our client-partners need more than capacity; they need capability. They need a U.S. site that can take on complex, commercial-scale peptide projects. That’s what we are building.”
Peptides are amino acids that engage with cells across a broad spectrum of medical benefits, ranging from muscle building to enhanced metabolism and treating chronic conditions, including diabetes and osteoporosis.
The new facility adds 68,000 square feet of space for commercial synthesis, flexible SPPS, and large-scale, complex peptide programs.
“As the global demand for peptide therapeutics accelerates, the need for dependable U.S. manufacturing is extremely important. This expansion enhances our ability to support our client-partners with scalable, high-quality production while creating new opportunities for skilled talent in Aiken County,” said Gregg.
Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker called the investment a significant step in the county’s economy.
‘The company’s expansion is a tremendous vote of confidence in our community, our workforce, and our business climate,” said Bunker. “AmbioPharm has been a valued member of our corporate community, and the Aiken County Council is proud of their growth and success. This announcement further strengthens Aiken County’s position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and life sciences.”
The expansion is expected to be completed and in operation by late 2027. Open positions are available at www.ambiopharm.com/careers/
