Lonza Breaks Ground on Major New Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility in Bend

This week, Lonza broke ground on a new commercial spray-drying pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Bend. The project is a significant investment in the company’s Central Oregon operations and is expected to create more than 80 jobs. The facility is expected to be completed in early 2029.

For Lonza, the project expands its U.S. manufacturing capabilities and takes its Bend operation into a new phase. The facility will establish Bend as a global hub for commercial spray-drying, an advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing technology that improves the bioavailability of medicines. It will include two spray-drying units and provide additional capacity to support customers as they move from development into commercial manufacturing.

The expansion builds on more than 50 years of pharmaceutical expertise in Bend. The local operation traces its roots to Bend Research, founded in 1975, and has developed into a center of excellence for bioavailability enhancement and particle engineering. The Bend team has helped evaluate or develop more than 2,000 compounds, giving Lonza a strong foundation for continued innovation and manufacturing.

For Central Oregon, the project adds commercial-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing to a community with a growing bioscience and advanced manufacturing sector. It also brings new highly skilled jobs and substantial private investment from an established global company that has continued to build its presence in Bend.

Supporting the Investment

EDCO is supporting Lonza as it works through the process of securing a 10-year Enterprise Zone agreement for the project. The 10-year Enterprise Zone is a new tool for Oregon communities, and EDCO worked with the City of Bend and the City’s Economic Development Office to help bring the program to the community.

EDCO is now assisting Lonza with the application process and incentive strategy. For a project of this scale, understanding the potential value of an incentive over time is an important part of the planning process. EDCO developed a financial model showing how potential savings could unfold each year of the program, helping Lonza evaluate its options and choose the approach that best fits the project.

EDCO’s role will continue throughout the project. Once the Enterprise Zone is in place, EDCO will manage the program through construction and the full abatement period, creating an ongoing relationship spanning approximately 13 years.

EDCO will continue to engage with Lonza to better understand the company’s evolving priorities and explore ways to support its long-term success. Those conversations include identifying relevant programs, resources and strategies that can help the company achieve its goals as future opportunities emerge.

Earlier in the project, EDCO also helped support conversations around Lonza’s substantial power requirements. By highlighting the scale of the proposed investment and its importance to Bend’s bioscience and manufacturing sector, EDCO helped put the project’s infrastructure needs in a broader economic context.

Building on a Bend Success Story

Lonza’s new facility is the latest chapter in a Bend operation that has grown from its Bend Research roots into an important part of the company’s global network. The site’s specialized scientific expertise has helped pharmaceutical companies advance drug candidates for decades, and this latest investment expands what can be done here.

As the new facility comes online, Lonza will be able to support customers further along the path from pharmaceutical development to commercial production. That creates another opportunity for the Bend team to apply its specialized expertise while bringing additional manufacturing capacity to the region.

EDCO will be there alongside Lonza as the project moves forward, supporting the Enterprise Zone process, staying engaged through construction and helping the company plan for what may come next. This long-term partnership is built around keeping a successful company growing in Central Oregon.