Lonza signed a definitive agreement to acquire Merck KGaA’s US CDMO network, expanding its footprint from four to nine sites. The deal covers five manufacturing sites and about 1,100 employees, and adds end-to-end capabilities spanning clinical and commercial development and manufacturing in bioconjugation, viral vectors, and related drug-delivery technologies. The transaction is valued at a low- to mid-triple-digit million Swiss-franc range, with closing expected in mid-2027. Merck KGaA said it will exit its CDMO business while continuing to supply consumables, technologies, and services. The move highlights how CDMO capacity and capabilities—particularly for ADCs and cell & gene therapy modalities—remain a key acquisition theme in the manufacturing services market.