Swiss peptide manufacturer Bachem Holding AG reported strong growth and robust profitability in 2025, driven by booming demand for peptide-based medicines and major expansion of its global production network.

 

The company said group sales climbed 14.8% to CHF 695.1 million last year, or 19.2% in local currencies, as demand for its products and services remained high across pharmaceutical markets.

 

Earnings grew even faster. EBITDA jumped 21.8% to CHF 214.7 million, pushing the company’s EBITDA margin to 30.9%, up from 29.1% a year earlier. Adjusted for one-off gains of CHF 16.1 million, the margin stood at 28.6%.

 

The company also delivered strong bottom-line performance, with net income rising 23.7% to CHF 148.8 million, representing a margin of 21.4%.

 

The board has proposed increasing the dividend to CHF 0.90 per share, up CHF 0.05 from the previous year.

 

“We can look back on a year of strong sales growth and sustained high profitability. Demand for our products and services remains strong, and our order situation remains at a very high level. Through targeted operational improvements as part of our Operational Excellence initiatives, we were not only able to significantly increase the capacity of our existing facilities, but also further improve our cost structure. 

 

"Another important milestone for the future was the successful completion of the inspection of Building K. Our continuous growth is both a reflection of the trust our customers place in us and the result of the outstanding performance of our teams worldwide," said Anne-Kathrin Stoller, CEO, Bachem Holding AG.

 

Growth was led by the company’s clinical development work for peptide drugs. Revenue from CMC Development, which supports clinical medicines, surged 29.7% to CHF 304 million, reflecting strong demand for peptide-based drug development.

 

Sales of commercial active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) reached CHF 343.4 million, up 5%, driven largely by patent-protected peptides.

 

Meanwhile, the Research & Specialties division grew 8.8% to CHF 47.7 million, helped by higher sales of peptides used in diagnostics and cosmetics.

 

The company invested heavily to expand capacity and modernize its global manufacturing network. Total capital expenditure reached CHF 332.6 million in 2025.

 

A major milestone was the successful inspection of Building K, a key new production facility whose construction began in 2021. The site passed inspection by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products at the end of 2025.

 

Commercial production at the facility will ramp up gradually in 2026 while the second construction phase continues.

 

Bachem also expanded operations in the United States, boosting large-volume production capacity at its Vista site and upgrading its Torrance facility. Additional investments were made in Vionnaz to secure supplies of critical chemical precursors.

 

Looking ahead, Bachem expects sales growth of 35% to 45% in local currencies in 2026, with an EBITDA margin in the low thirties.

 

The company plans to accelerate expansion further, with capital investments exceeding CHF 400 million in 2026 as it continues to scale global peptide manufacturing capacity.