Lonza signed a definitive agreement to acquire five Merck KGaA CDMO manufacturing sites in the U.S., expanding Lonza’s footprint from four to nine sites and more than doubling its U.S. presence. The transaction also adds about 1,100 employees and is positioned to strengthen Lonza’s end-to-end offering, including clinical and commercial development and manufacturing capabilities. Lonza said the acquired network will support customers across areas including antibody-drug conjugates and other bioconjugates, viral vectors for cell and gene therapies, and advanced drug-delivery technologies. Lonza will acquire the assets and related businesses at a total enterprise valuation in the low- to mid-triple-digit millions of Swiss francs. The announcement complements Lonza’s ongoing investment in manufacturing readiness in Vacaville, California, and a recently announced commercial spray-drying facility in Bend, Oregon—signaling continued capacity buildout ahead of demand for complex modalities in the U.S. market.