Simtra BioPharma Expands U.S. Operations with Major Bloomington Property Purchase; Former GE Factory Property

Written from press release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — July 25, 2025 — Simtra BioPharma Solutions announced Friday it has acquired a 65-acre property on Bloomington’s west side — formerly part of the General Electric (GE) plant — to significantly expand its U.S. manufacturing capacity for injectable medicines, including cutting-edge cancer therapies.

The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) purchased the site at 301 N. Curry Pike from Cook Group. The property, which once housed GE’s manufacturing operations before its closure, includes more than 300,000 square feet of under-roof space near Simtra’s existing Bloomington facility.

General Electric was a major employer in Bloomington for decades, operating its refrigerator manufacturing plant on the west side of the city from the 1960s until operations in Bloomington ceased in the 2000s.

Simtra’s purchase marks a major redevelopment of the legacy industrial site, transitioning it from heavy manufacturing to advanced pharmaceutical production.

Company officials said the move positions Simtra to become the first CDMO in the United States to offer commercial-scale drug product manufacturing of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), a growing class of targeted cancer therapies. The expansion is part of a broader investment strategy to strengthen Simtra’s North American operations and allow customers to complete their entire supply chain domestically.

“This purchase gives us the foundation to grow with purpose, building the advanced injectable capacity our customers need while strengthening our presence in North America,” said Franco Negron, Simtra CEO. “It reflects our long-term commitment to delivering vital injectable products and helping our customers navigate complex global supply chains.”

Simtra is planning to install isolator-based vial and prefilled syringe filling lines at the site and is exploring “build-to-suit” solutions tailored to customer needs. The facility would mark Simtra’s first commercial-scale U.S. site for oncology-focused injectables.

The Bloomington acquisition complements Simtra’s $250 million construction project currently underway at its existing facility in the city, as well as over $100 million in recent expansions at its Halle/Westfalen, Germany campus—including a new production building and a $14 million conjugation and purification suite.

Simtra said it will work closely with Monroe County officials on a phased development plan and expects to release additional details in the coming weeks.

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