The CDMO Sorting Hat: Selecting the Right CDMO in Era of Complexity

Changes in the Industry are Impacting the Selection Criteria

For biopharmaceutical companies, choosing a development and manufacturing partner is one of the most consequential decisions in a molecule's journey from development to commercialization. Every sponsor enters the selection process with a different set of priorities. An early-stage biotech racing toward IND may prioritize timelines. A company preparing for commercial launch may focus on manufacturing capacity and capabilities. Others may be looking for specialized technical expertise, global supply resilience, or cost efficiency.

For years, the core selection criteria have remained largely unchanged: timelines, capabilities, capacity, reputation, and cost. However, the environment in which these decisions are made is changing rapidly. Geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures, supply chain disruption, technological advancements, and the rise of increasingly complex modalities are all influencing the standard selection criteria.

These shifts have not necessarily created entirely new selection criteria. Rather, they have changed how sponsors evaluate the traditional ones.

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