Lonza Group AG is a Swiss multinational manufacturing company for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and nutrition sectors, headquartered in Basel, with major facilities in Europe, North America and South Asia.

Lonza was founded in 1897 in the small Swiss town of Gampel, situated in the canton of Valais, taking its name from the nearby river.

In 1923, Lonza started to convert calcium carbide to metaldehyde (sold as a solid fuel under the brand 'Meta' and then slug repellant) via acetylene and acetaldehyde.

[7] Production of the mRNA bulk vaccine started in January 2021, soon after an official visit by Swiss Federal Councilor Alain Berset.

Lonza Group was responsible for the global production of two-thirds of the raw materials for the Moderna vaccine at combined U.S. and Swiss facilities.

[11][12][13] In 2018, Lonza opened a 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) facility focused on cell and gene therapy in the United States in Pearland, Texas (a suburb of Houston).

While the shift is expected to result in non-cash write-downs, analysts believe it will enhance Lonza’s growth prospects and financial stability.

Bernstein analyst Justin Smith praised the move as a step toward “operational simplification,” highlighting Lonza’s new business focus on three platforms: integrated biologics, advanced synthesis, and specialized modalities.