Vetter Breaks Ground on New U.S. Clinical Manufacturing Site
An official groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction on the service provider’s new site in Des Plaines, Ill., which will house a clinical production facility for aseptic manufacturing, new process areas for material preparation and compounding, in addition to other buildings.
Global CDMO, Vetter, has officially broken ground on its new U.S.-based clinical manufacturing site, which the company expects to be ready for media fill by the end of 2029. The groundbreaking ceremony for the site, located in Des Plaines, Ill., took place on June 26, 2025 (1).
The service provider is investing USD 285 million in the new facility, which will comprise a 160,000 sq. ft. clinical production facility for aseptic manufacturing. Additionally, the site will include new process areas for material preparation and compounding with other buildings located on site to provide supporting services, such as storage, laboratories, and offices.
“[This] groundbreaking ceremony marks another significant milestone within our continuing expansion plans,” said Senator h.c. Udo J. Vetter, Chairman of the Advisory Board and member of the owner family, in a company press release (1). “The new site will not only demonstrate our enhanced clinical operations and manufacturing capabilities but will also expand our presence in the U.S. significantly. We want to express our deep gratitude for the warm hospitality of the Illinois Science + Technology Park since 2009, hosting and supporting our successful start of U.S. manufacturing operations. We are excited to now be able to officially kick off this ambitious project.”
The building permit for the site was granted to Vetter in April 2025, and the company began upstream and ground preparation work at that time. Once the site is up and running, the company plans to relocate its current clinical operations in Skokie to the new Des Plaines location.
“This facility marks the beginning of a new chapter in our U.S. success story,” stated Vetter Managing Director Henryk Badack, in the press release (1). “Together with our clinical site in Rankweil, Austria, we will be able to meet the increasing development needs of our customers while reinforcing our industry position as a reliable partner for low-volume injectables of innovative drug candidates during the crucial early development phases, among others.”
Existing buildings, currently located in the Des Plaines area, will be retained, meaning there will be ample space for potential future expansion opportunities throughout the 860,000 sq. ft. property. Any potential expansion plans will be dependent upon global market developments and customer demand, as well as any investment plans that the company has ongoing at its sites in Germany and Austria.
Company representatives and Des Plaines city officials, along with other guests, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new U.S. site. During the event, there were various speeches that provided glimpses into the company’s plans for the facility and its role within the global network of drug manufacturing operations.
“In the current economic climate, it is a positive sign to see an international company like Vetter making a significant investment to expand their footprint here in the Chicago suburbs,” noted Des Plaines Mayor Andrew Goczkowski at the groundbreaking ceremony (1). “This new facility will create high-quality jobs for our residents and bolster our local economy. We are excited to welcome Vetter as a valued member of our Des Plaines community.”
Reference
Vetter. Vetter Marks the Start of a New Clinical Site Construction with Groundbreaking Ceremony. Press Release, June 27, 2025.