In response to the surging market demand for metabolic disease treatments such as GLP-1 drugs, WUXI APPTEC (603259.SH, 02359), with its deep expertise in the field, has accelerated its capacity expansion plans. During a recent earnings conference, the company announced further investment in its TIDES (peptide and oligonucleotide) business. It plans to significantly increase the total volume of its solid-phase synthesis reactors to 130,000 liters, with three new production workshops currently under active preparation.

Driven by substantial capacity and robust order flow, the company anticipates a new phase of rapid growth for its TIDES business by 2026, targeting annual revenue exceeding 15 billion yuan. The expansion of reactor capacity to 130,000 liters is a key strategic move to address the exponential growth in demand for GLP-1 related manufacturing. The company had previously achieved a capacity of over 100,000 liters by the end of the third quarter of 2025. This new phase of capacity enhancement will further strengthen its production capabilities and delivery reliability in the global peptide CDMO sector, providing a solid foundation for handling more late-stage clinical and commercial orders.

The expectation for TIDES revenue to approach 16 billion yuan for the full year is supported by a strong order backlog and steadily increasing production capacity. Data shows that the business surpassed 10 billion yuan in revenue for the first time in 2025. By the end of the first quarter, the number of clients and molecules served by the TIDES business increased by 28% and 59% year-on-year, respectively, indicating strong growth momentum. Continued capacity expansion will directly support the business in reaching new revenue milestones.

The rapid growth of WUXI APPTEC's TIDES business is largely driven by the global boom in GLP-1 drug development. The company currently provides R&D and manufacturing support for 24 GLP-1 drug programs, 15 of which have entered Phase II or Phase III clinical trials. With forward-looking capacity planning and a robust technology platform, WUXI APPTEC is well-positioned to capture the growing outsourcing demand for complex molecule development, further consolidating its central role in the global pharmaceutical innovation supply chain.