Marcel Imwinkelried, CEO, Siegfried
Siegfried is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that produces active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, and finished dosage forms for the pharmaceutical industry.
What is your vision for Siegfried as the new CEO?
First and foremost, Siegfried's success over the last 15 years has been built on a solid strategy that has allowed us to surpass the critical revenue threshold of one billion. This has enabled us to strengthen our capabilities across the entire value chain—from early-phase development to commercial production, for drug substances as well as for finished dosage forms. As the new CEO, my goal is to continue expanding on these achievements and further enhance our technological platforms, particularly in new technologies like bridging technologies, as well as cartridge and pre-filled syringes, which are becoming increasingly important in new launches.
We are also focused on maintaining our competitive edge in operational excellence. We aim to deliver best-in-class services across all stages, from commercial excellence to development and operational performance. This includes ensuring safety, quality, and reliability, as evidenced by our impeccable track record with FDA audits and our high on-time delivery rate of over 92%. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on technology investments and operational efficiency to solidify our position as a market leader.
Can you tell us more about the new R&D facility you inaugurated in Switzerland last November?
The new R&D center is a crucial part of our strategy to provide end-to-end services from early-phase development through to commercialization. As the industry shifts towards more complex and personalized medicines, we recognize that a significant proportion of new FDA-approved molecules come from small and mid-sized companies. To cater to this growing demand, we aim to support these companies by advancing development excellence and expanding our capabilities, particularly in early-phase development.
The new facility in Evionnaz will play a key role in this process, offering dedicated space for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, which is directly aligned with our strategy to grow and strengthen our expertise in drug substance development. The center will also complement our existing sites in Southern Europe and further enhance our ability to support small to mid-cap companies in the development of new therapies. This facility marks an important milestone as we continue to evolve and expand our R&D capabilities to deliver best in class R&D services to our customers, helping them to reduce their development times and to accelerate their speed to market.
How is Siegfried preparing to service advanced therapies, particularly in the context of personalized medicine?
We continue to rely on our deep scientific expertise as we expand into new areas, including personalized medicine. A key milestone on this journey was the acquisition of the biotechnology company focused on the development and manufacturing of AAV and Lentiviruses for cell and gene therapies, DINAMIQS, in Schlieren, Switzerland, which positioned us to enter the personalized medicine space. We have since invested in expanding our capabilities to support the growing demand for advanced therapies.
While we are actively innovating in the field of personalized medicine, our approach is also strategic and opportunistic. We seek to build on our existing strengths and expand by acquiring new assets where it makes sense for our business. We are continuously evaluating potential acquisitions in biologics and other modalities. We do this very carefully to ensure they align with our growth strategy and offer strong business cases. This approach allows us to selectively build out our capabilities and ensure sustainable, long-term growth in the advanced therapy space.
Can you tell us about Siegfried’s recent acquisition in the United States and its plans for expansion there?
The acquisition of the US based CDMO site in Grafton, Wisconsin, last year is part of our ongoing strategy to grow and consolidate our position as a leading player in the CDMO space. The U.S. market remains a key area of focus for us, and this acquisition is aimed at strengthening our footprint in this important market. At the same time, we are able to expand our offering for early-phase development which is a key pillar of our strategy EVOLVE+. Over the last decade, Siegfried has emerged as one of the top players in the highly fragmented CDMO sector, and this acquisition allows us to further solidify our position in the U.S. while offering more comprehensive services to our customers.
In addition to our U.S. expansion, we continue to look for strategic opportunities that will accelerate our growth and allow us to diversify into new modalities. While the consolidation of the sector has slowed somewhat post-COVID, we are seeing increased activity in the market and remain committed to pursuing opportunities that align with our strategic goals and deliver value for the company. We view this ongoing consolidation as both an opportunity and a challenge and will continue to play an active role in shaping the future of the industry.
How prepared is Siegfried for potential challenges related to the ongoing geopolitical tensions?
Siegfried is well-positioned to navigate potential challenges arising from geopolitical risks, reverse globalization, and supply chain disruptions. With a strong presence of 13 sites in Western Europe, China, and the U.S., we have a diversified global manufacturing footprint which allows us to navigate potential risk for our customers. Our three U.S. sites, including locations in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and California, ensure that we are well-equipped to meet the needs of our clients in key markets. Moreover, our sites in Europe and China provide additional layers of flexibility and resilience to our operations.
Over the years, we have worked closely with our customers to establish dual supply points, which provide business continuity and minimize disruptions to their operations. This proactive approach has already proven valuable in navigating challenges like COVID-19. We remain in constant communication with our customers to ensure that we can respond effectively to emerging risks and continue to meet their needs in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Where would you like to see Siegfried in five years?
In five years, we will look back and see Siegfried as a consistently growing company, both in terms of top-line and bottom-line results. My goal is to ensure that we have expanded our offering and strengthened our market position even further. I want to see Siegfried as a highly engaged and agile organization, ready to tackle new challenges and embrace emerging technologies as they arise. It is important that we continue to build on our success, always looking for ways to innovate and evolve as a leading player in the CDMO space. Ultimately, I envision Siegfried as a company that has not only grown in size but also as a key player shaping the future of our industry.
