Lonza agreed to purchase five U.S. contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) sites from Merck KGaA, expanding its U.S. network from four to nine locations. The deal—described as valued in the low- to mid-triple-digit millions Swiss francs—would increase Lonza’s U.S. workforce by roughly 1,100 employees, bringing combined headcount above 6,000. Lonza said the expanded U.S. footprint adds end-to-end capabilities for growth areas including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other bioconjugates, viral vectors for cell and gene therapies, and advanced drug-delivery technologies. The company framed the transaction as a “strong fit” with its One Lonza growth strategy and ongoing investment in spray-drying capacity. For sponsors relying on outsourced manufacturing, the move is material: expanded capacity and geographic footprint can reduce bottlenecks for complex modalities—particularly when projects require specialized analytical, process development, and tech-transfer capabilities. In the context of persistent development timelines, the acquisition also underscores how CDMOs are competing on integrated execution capacity rather than standalone unit operations.