Ofichem Acquires Swedish Site from Meribel Pharma Solutions

Ofichem, a European CDMO specializing in high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and integrated drug development and manufacturing services, has acquired Meribel Pharma Solutions’ site in Uppsala, Sweden, enhancing its ability to support early-phase, IP-driven drug substance development and expanding its non-GMP capabilities in the small-molecule space.

The Uppsala site, formerly part of Recipharm, is home to 20 employees and specializes in small-scale, early-phase development work. The expertise on offer at the facility spans traditional small molecule and emerging modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), oligonucleotides and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), expanding Ofichem’s non-GMP capabilities in early-stage development.

“This acquisition is a strategic building block in Ofichem’s broader transformation,” said Dr. Weite H. Oldenziel, CEO and owner of Ofichem. “Our goal is to serve innovative biotech companies with agile, early-stage development solutions, and this site offers precisely the expertise and technologies we need to deliver on that vision.”

The acquisition reflects Ofichem’s evolving focus, building on its foundation serving generics and mid-sized pharma to now invest more deeply in services for biotech innovators.

The site will operate in close coordination with Ofichem’s GMP manufacturing operations in Ter Apel, the Netherlands, creating a seamless path from early-stage research to commercial production. The acquisition also provides access to a portfolio of more than 40 biotech and mid-sized pharma clients, expanding Ofichem’s reach across the Nordic countries.

“We are proud to have found in Ofichem a reliable and respected partner who shares our values and unwavering focus on customer success,” said Bruce Vielle, CEO of Meribel. “This agreement is not only a positive step for both organizations but especially for the dedicated team and ongoing projects at the Uppsala site.

Looking ahead, Ofichem plans to further grow and expand its early-stage drug substance network, including evaluations of larger-scale GMP manufacturing sites in Europe and North America. Earlier this year, the company also agreed to acquire Aviva.