Lifecore and PolyPeptide Announce Collaboration Intended to Offer End-to-End Peptide Manufacturing Solution for U.S. Market

Rhea-AI Summary

Lifecore Biomedical (NASDAQ: LFCR) and PolyPeptide announced a collaboration on October 28, 2025 to deliver an integrated end-to-end peptide manufacturing solution for the U.S. market.

The agreement pairs PolyPeptide’s peptide drug substance (DS) development and manufacturing capabilities with Lifecore’s formulation, fill/finish, and packaging expertise to enable a seamless DS-to-drug product (DP) transition, with the stated goals of accelerating development timelines, lowering development costs and risks, and providing a fully U.S.-based supply chain with aligned regulatory oversight.

Insights

CDMO partnership analyst

Lifecore and PolyPeptide announce a U.S.-focused collaboration to provide integrated peptide DS-to-DP manufacturing and supply-chain continuity.

The agreement pairs Lifecore Biomedical and PolyPeptide Laboratories to deliver a combined service chain covering drug substance manufacture and drug product formulation, fill/finish, and packaging. The stated mechanism is a seamless transition between DS and DP, plus joint support for laboratory transfers, equipment and method comparability, and release testing.

The plan targets faster development timelines and lower development cost and risk by keeping the supply chain U.S.-based and aligned to regulatory expectations. Key dependencies include successful technical transfers and maintained quality across both companies. Watch operational milestones such as completed laboratory transfers and validated method comparability steps over the next 12–24 months for evidence of execution.

CHASKA, Minn. and TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFCR) (“Lifecore”), a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (“CDMO”), and PolyPeptide Laboratories, Inc. (“PolyPeptide”), a global leader in peptide contract development and manufacturing, today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement aimed at providing an integrated, end-to-end solution for peptide-based pharmaceutical customers in the U.S.

The collaboration will leverage PolyPeptide’s strong capabilities in peptide manufacturing and development in combination with Lifecore’s expertise in formulation, fill/finish, and packaging. The companies intend to work together to offer a seamless transition between drug substance (DS) and drug product (DP), which is designed to enable customers to accelerate development timelines, reduce development costs and risks, and enjoy the reliability and regulatory alignment that comes with a fully U.S.-based supply chain.

“This collaboration brings together two leading organizations, each an expert in its field, to deliver value to peptide-based pharmaceutical developers. Together, we expect to optimize product development activities through a range of collaborative studies and assessments, and by streamlining the supply chain, aim to help customers meet their development milestones,” said Mark DaFonseca, chief commercial officer, Lifecore Biomedical.

“By aligning our technical and commercial strengths, we believe we are uniquely positioned to help customers navigate complex development challenges and bring innovative therapies to market faster. Together, the companies anticipate jointly supporting laboratory transfers, equipment comparability, method transfer and release testing, thus ensuring robust technical oversight and quality through the entire process,” added Trishul Shah, global director of business development and head of sales, PolyPeptide.

About PolyPeptide Group
PolyPeptide Laboratories, Inc., based in Torrance, CA, is a subsidiary of PolyPeptide Group AG (SIX: PPGN). PolyPeptide is a specialized CDMO for peptide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients. PolyPeptide serves a fast growing market, and is a global leader in peptide development and manufacturing, offering comprehensive solutions from early-stage development to commercial supply. www.polypeptide.com.

About Lifecore Biomedical

Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq: LFCR) is a fully integrated contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that offers highly differentiated capabilities in the development, fill and finish of sterile injectable pharmaceutical products in syringes, vials, and cartridges, including complex formulations. As a leading manufacturer of premium, injectable-grade hyaluronic acid, Lifecore brings more than 40 years of expertise as a partner for global and emerging biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across multiple therapeutic categories to bring their innovations to market. For more information about the company, visit Lifecore’s website at www.lifecore.com.

Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are subject to the safe harbor created under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other safe harbors under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “aim”, “designed to”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, all statements regarding our collaboration agreement with PolyPeptide and the expected benefits to us, PolyPeptide and customers are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including such factors among others, the timing and amount of future expenses, revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, cash flow and capital requirements, and timing and availability of and the need for additional financing; our ability to maintain or expand our relationships with our current customers, including the impact of changes in consumer demand for the products we manufacture for our customers; our ability to grow and diversify our business with new customers, including the potential loss of development customers if they do not receive required funding or regulatory approvals, or for other reasons; our ability to comply with covenants under our credit agreements and to pay required interest and principal payments when due; our ability to raise additional capital for ongoing needs, including through equity financing, debt financing, collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements; the impact of macroeconomic events or circumstances on our operations and financial performance, including inflation, tariffs, interest rates, social unrest and global instability; the performance of our third-party suppliers; pharmaceutical industry market forces that may impact our customers’ success and continued demand for the products we produce for those customers; our ability to recruit or retain key scientific, technical, business development, and management personnel and our executive officers; our ability to comply with stringent U.S. and foreign government regulation in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, including current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP; the outcome and cost of existing and any new litigation or regulatory proceedings; and other risk factors set forth from time to time in the company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 25, 2025 (the “2025 10-K”). For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors contained in the 2025 10-K. Forward-looking statements represent management’s current expectations as of the date hereof and are inherently uncertain. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by us to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. Contact Information:

Vida Strategic Partners
Stephanie Diaz (Investors)
415-675-7401
sdiaz@vidasp.com

Tim Brons (Media)
415-675-7402
tbrons@vidasp.com

Ryan D. Lake (CFO)
Lifecore Biomedical
952-368-6244
ryan.lake@lifecore.com

PolyPeptide Contact Information:

Trishul Shah (Global Director Business Development and Head of Sales)
Trishul.Shah@polypeptide.com

Lauren Starr (Senior Manager Corporate Communications)
Lauren.Starr@polypeptide.com

FAQ

What did Lifecore (LFCR) and PolyPeptide announce on October 28, 2025?

They announced a collaboration to offer an integrated end-to-end peptide manufacturing solution for the U.S. market, covering DS-to-DP transitions.

How will the Lifecore and PolyPeptide collaboration affect peptide drug development timelines for LFCR customers?

The companies say the integrated DS-to-DP workflow is designed to accelerate development timelines by streamlining transfers and technical activities.

What specific capabilities does Lifecore bring to the LFCR and PolyPeptide partnership?

Lifecore contributes formulation, fill/finish, and packaging expertise for drug product (DP) development and supply.

What specific capabilities does PolyPeptide bring to the LFCR and PolyPeptide partnership?

PolyPeptide brings peptide drug substance (DS) development and manufacturing experience to the integrated offering.

Will the Lifecore and PolyPeptide collaboration change LFCR's supply chain location?

The collaboration is intended to provide a fully U.S.-based supply chain option to improve reliability and regulatory alignment for customers.

What technical activities will Lifecore and PolyPeptide jointly support under the collaboration?

They plan to support laboratory transfers, equipment comparability, method transfer, and release testing to ensure technical oversight and quality.