MacroGenics is emerging as your Go-To CDMO Next Door
A deep dive with Matt Johnson on the people, processes, and partnerships behind Maryland’s most collaborative manufacturing partner.
MacroGenics has built a reputation as a leading company in the antibody development space for over 25 years. More recently, they’ve also built on that expertise and leveraged their excess capacity to become “the CDMO next door” for companies working on antibody-based therapeutics —offering end-to-end capabilities, deep scientific expertise and a collaborative ethos while continuing to advance their internal pipeline. We sat down with Matt Johnson, Contract Manufacturing Manager, to explore how a company founded nearly 25 years ago has seamlessly evolved into a trusted outsourcing partner and what makes its culture, community and technical prowess so valued by innovators in the region.
Q: Tell us about your role and how it fits within MacroGenics’ CDMO operations.
A: I’m a contract manufacturing manager at MacroGenics and — along with my colleagues — oversee the relationships with our CDMO partners. We’re right in the center of all those activities, helping with the communication aspect and the logistics of working with external partners. As well as driving the success of those programs and helping our partners achieve what they’re trying to achieve in terms of getting their product developed, manufactured and into the market.
From cell-line development through clinical and commercial scale manufacturing, my team ensures each transfer, scale-up and tech transfer runs are executed seamlessly. We leverage MacroGenics’ FDA-inspected, single-use facility equipped with 500 L and 2,000 L bioreactors, as well as our in-house analytical and quality testing capabilities to ensure consistency and compliance at every stage.
Q: MacroGenics began as a fully internal developer. How did you transition to offering CDMO services?
A: The progression was fairly natural evolution. Over 25 years we’ve steadily built internal capacity to support our pipeline. Ultimately becoming self-sufficient on drug substance manufacturing. As we developed excess capacity and deep technical expertise, it made strategic sense to extend those capabilities to other companies, to help them bring their therapies to market and ultimately reach more patients, whether it’s our own molecules or those developed by our partners.
That surplus capacity laid the foundation for a comprehensive suite of services including cell-line development, process and formulation development, analytical method development, comparability studies, validation, and commercial GMP manufacturing.
Q: What qualities at MacroGenics have made this dual-purpose model work so smoothly?
A: Our mission is driven by strong internal collaboration and an overwhelming desire to be successful with everything we’re part of. Our values are centered around persistence, flexibility, and capitalizing on every opportunity. Whether supporting early-stage development or managing direct-to-manufacturing transfers, we are equipped to engage at any point and deliver immediate impact for our partners. That adaptability, paired with a team that treats each CDMO project as if it was their own project enables our model to operate seamlessly and sets MacroGenics apart from larger, more transactional service providers.
Q: How do your customers describe working with MacroGenics?
A: What they appreciate is that it doesn’t feel like you’re working with a CDMO. It feels like you’re working with an extension of your own team. We’re able to cultivate that CDMO-next-door feeling.
This seamless integration has resonated especially with biotechs in Maryland, who benefit from local proximity and on-the-ground support.
Q: MacroGenics has many employees who have been with the company for 5, 10, 20+ years. What do you attribute such strong employee retention and engagement to?
A: This has a lot to do with our company culture. Our employees are driven by the community we’ve built at MacroGenics. If you don’t enjoy working alongside your colleagues, you’re unlikely to stay here. Our team is inspired by the shared mission to help patients, whether through our own internal pipeline or partnerships and take pride in seeing the infrastructure they’ve helped create come to life.
Whether it was contributing to the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility validated in 2018, or guiding new hires through quality milestones, Matt highlights ownership and shared purpose as key retention drivers.
Q: Why has Maryland been such fertile ground for MacroGenics’ growth?
A: All the efforts by organizations to recruit companies, provide talent for research and innovation, plus proximity to NIH, all these factors create an ecosystem of like-minded people determined to make things happen.
Indeed, the state’s cluster of federal labs, academic centers and incubators fuels a steady pipeline of molecules needing CDMO support.
Q: Finally, what message would you send to early-stage developers in Maryland?
A: It’s never too soon—or too late—to start the conversation. Even if you’re years away from needing services, engaging early gives us a chance to offer valuable guidance and share our expertise. In an industry where timelines are tight, stakes are high and precision is critical, MacroGenics has quietly become the go-to partner for early-stage innovators seeking both technical depth and genuine collaboration . From its highly experienced antibody development teams and a uniquely hands on “next-door” approach , we have transformed our internal capacity into a comprehensive CDMO offering that feels and functions like an extension of our clients’ own teams .
As Maryland’s biotech ecosystem continues to grow, firms seeking to move their molecules from bench to bedside will find in MacroGenics more than a service provider, we are committed neighbor invested in their success. After all, when your partner is as committed to your mission and your community as you are, every milestone feels like a shared step toward better treatments and healthier lives.
