At JPM 2025, James Park, CEO of Lotte Biologics, outlined the company’s dual CDMO strategy. The company will focus on small- to medium-scale drug production - including ADCs - at their Syracuse, New York facility, while large-scale drug production will be handled at the planned Songdo bio-campus in Korea.

Singaporean biotech, DotBio, is aiming to revolutionize cancer treatment by targeting exhausted T-cells with its tri-specific antibody, DB007. The antibody, built using DotBio’s modular DotBody technology, is designed to treat a broad range of solid tumors either as a standalone therapy or in combination with others.

Novo Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk, intends to significantly expand Catalent, the contract drug manufacturer it completed its acquisition of in December 2024. Novo aims to potentially double Catalent's size over the next five years, aligning with anticipated U.S. policies under President Trump that emphasize domestic manufacturing.

U.S. CRDMO, BioDuro, has opened a new solid-phase peptide synthesis scale-up facility at its Shanghai campus to support peptide synthesis up to 800 mmol for a wide range of peptides, including linear and cyclic peptides, as well as peptide-drug conjugates.

Thermo Fisher Scientific projects a positive outlook for its CDMO services, influenced by industry dynamics and geopolitical factors. The now complete acquisition of Catalent by Novo Holdings is expected to reduce competition for Thermo in the CDMO sector.

As the demand for advanced therapies continues to grow, CDMOs are fast becoming the solution for biopharma companies that need specialized expertise and capabilities that are scalable for their drug development and commercialization.

In addition to rebranding itself from BioDuro-Sundia, BioDuro, the global contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) announced it has achieved Gold Medal ratings in the 2024 EcoVadis sustainability assessment for its Jiangsu and Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) sites in China.

The European CDMO industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by a shift toward localized manufacturing. In a bid to enhance supply chain security, ensure compliance with EU regulations, and improve logistical efficiency, the industry has seen a rise in "friend-shoring", whereby European companies are increasingly favoring European neighbors over those on other continents.

Biomanufacturing CDMO, National Resilience, has announced plans to lay off approximately 105 employees at its Alachua, Florida facility as part of a strategic pivot away from government business toward commercial development and manufacturing. The restructuring coincides with a leadership change, as CEO Rahul Singhvi steps down and is replaced by William Marth. However, the company will continue to expand elsewhere, including a USD 225 mn investment in Cincinnati and creating 440 new jobs at its West Chester, Ohio facility.

Massachusetts biotech Agenus is undergoing its second reorganization in 16 months, pivoting to include CDMO services at its 25,000-square-foot Berkeley clinical facility and 83,000-square-foot Emeryville commercial plant for third-party biologics manufacturing.

Californian-based, SK pharmteco, has announced a brand unification initiative, bringing together several respected organizations under its umbrella to create a global CDMO. SK biotek, SK biotek Ireland, Center for Breakthrough Medicines, Yposkesi, AMPAC Fine Chemicals, and AMPAC Analytical, will now combine to operate as SK pharmteco, providing a comprehensive range of services from early-stage development to commercial manufacturing and analytical testing.

Swiss manufacturing company, Lonza, has announced a strategic shift to focus on its CDMO business. The company will restructure its existing CDMO business into three new units - integrated biologics, advanced synthesis, and specialized modalities - as it focuses on its ambition to achieve and maintain leadership across therapeutic modalities.

Overall, 2024 was a good year to be working in the CDMO industry, but will the outlook stay positive for 2025?

Forecasts predict a steady rise in continuing growth trends from 2024, with estimates indicating the global pharmaceutical CDMO market is set to grow from USD 184.90 bn in 2024 to USD 197.40 bn in 2025, and looking further ahead, predicted to reach USD 368.70 bn by 2034.

CRDMO BioDuro has announced the appointment of Alan Findlater as their new CCO, who brings over 25 years of senior commercial leadership experience in the life sciences and pharmaceutical services industry to his new role. Findlater has experience leading high-performing teams and managing complex product and service portfolios, with his expertise also extending to executing successful strategic growth initiatives on a global scale and building high-value partnerships with industry leaders such as Amgen, Pfizer, and Roche.

The KPMG 2024 Life Sciences CEO Outlook report reveals that despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties, many CEOs remain optimistic. Growth prospects, new technologies, business models, and sustainability all feature within the report. 79% of CEOs expressed confidence in their companies' growth, with many planning to expand their workforce and engage in acquisitions.

Celltrion, a leading South Korean biosimilar developer, has announced plans to enter the CDMO market, investing 1.5 trillion won (USD 1 bn) to construct a 200,000-liter production facility in Korea.

To support this expansion, Celltrion will open R&D centers in India, the US, and Europe, hiring 500 Ph.D.-level researchers, aiming to offer a comprehensive range of CDMO services related to monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and ADCs.

BMS has announced plans to lay off 195 employees across its two facilities in Lanceville, New Jersey as part of a broader cost-cutting initiative. In addition to the New Jersey layoffs, BMS had previously announced plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 3,300 positions, representing about 5% of its total employees.

The term CDMO has become ubiquitous in the pharmaceutical industry over the past decade, but is it merely a buzzword or does it represent a genuine paradigm shift?

Historically, service providers were identified as CROs (Contract Research Organizations) or CMOs (Contract Manufacturing Organizations), with each representing a clear delineation of services. As the biopharma landscape has evolved in response to changing industry dynamics, service providers have evolved to become "one-stop shops" capable of providing services for compounds through all development phases and into post-launch manufacturing.

If you were to launch a biopharma startup today, where would you find the skills, talent, and space to bring your vision to life? Biopharma incubators are usually the answer.

These facilities provide an essential foundation for emerging companies, hosting the vital resources and support needed to drive the development of groundbreaking therapies. Programs like JLABS, BioLabs, and LabCentral provide startups with fully equipped labs, cutting-edge technologies, and access to networks of investors, mentors, and industry experts who can help turn ideas into reality.

Novo Nordisk has announced plans to gradually discontinue the production of human insulin pens worldwide, transitioning to offering human insulin exclusively in vial form. The strategic move comes as the company focuses on expanding manufacturing for its popular obesity and diabetes injections, such as Wegovy and Ozempic.