ESTEVE CDMO recently announced it had commenced a $15.5-million investment to enhance production capabilities and associated space at its newly acquired North American facility in Morton Grove, IL.

Scheduled for completion in 2026, the work will see reactor upgrades to add powder transfer systems, and distillation tanks. Jacket insulation and a single thermal fluid circuit will be added to enhance thermal management and broaden the reactors’ operational temperature range to between -15C and +140C (5 to 284F) and simplify validation under GMP conditions.

Additionally, the site will implement cleanroom and ancillary equipment upgrades including a computer-based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor, control, and record manufacturing processes in real time, and installation of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems that will safeguard the efficient operation of vital quality control laboratories.

“This investment reflects an important step in building a strong and sustainable U.S. platform for ESTEVE CDMO,” commented Andrea Oro, Managing Director US. “It strengthens our ability to support customers earlier in development and accompany their programs through GMP manufacturing, with the technical depth, reliability, and collaborative mindset they expect from a long-term CDMO partner.”

ESTEVE acquired its facility in Morton Grove in July 2025 with the aim of advancing its commitment to support pharmaceutical and biotech innovators to accelerate complex molecules to market through integrated capabilities and collaborative execution, in North America and beyond. Located in the Chicago metropolitan area, it provides ESTEVE CDMO with a physical presence in the United States and expands its early-stage development capabilities and portfolio of services to include process research and development, analytical and stability testing, CGMP API manufacturing, chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) support.

ESTEVE CDMO, part of ESTEVE Healthcare, is a global pure-play partner specialized in small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and pharmaceutical intermediates, supporting pharmaceutical and biotech innovators in advancing complex molecules from early development to commercial supply. With over 60 years of experience in development and manufacturing, we combine deep scientific expertise, robust regulatory and quality systems, and a collaborative mindset.

ESTEVE CDMO, with headquarters in Barcelona, has a global network of six development and manufacturing sites across Spain, the United States, Mexico, and China, enabling scalable, resilient, and reliable supply solutions, tailored to each program’s evolving needs.