CDMO Partnerships: Why Speed And Flexibility Matter Now More Than Ever

By Miguel Ángel Ortega Sánchez

Before the rapid rise of GLP-1 therapies, the pharmaceutical industry was already undergoing a structural shift away from traditional blockbuster drugs and toward more specialized, personalized modalities such as cell and gene therapies (CGTs) and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). This transition drove growing demand for highly flexible manufacturing facilities designed for small-batch, high-complexity production rather than volume at scale.

The explosive growth of GLP-1s — alongside sustained demand for vaccines — has fundamentally altered this trajectory. These products have reinvigorated the need for large-scale manufacturing, particularly within the fast-expanding injectables segment. As a result, many pharmaceutical companies are once again turning to contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to support major capacity expansions and accelerate production timelines to keep pace with surging demand.

Speed has become a defining competitive factor. Development and manufacturing timelines that were once considered acceptable at 18 months are now expected in as little as nine — and in some cases even less — especially for GLP-1s and biologics. What was once the exception has quickly become the industry standard.

However, identifying CDMOs capable of meeting these expectations remains a significant challenge. Few providers can deliver both rapid execution and true scalability without compromising on product quality, supply reliability, or regulatory compliance. The challenge is compounded by increasingly stringent regulatory requirements, which further narrow the field of viable partners. Manufacturing facilities that were compliant under previous frameworks may no longer meet today’s heightened standards, limiting available capacity even further.

Taken together, this creates an ambitious and highly selective set of criteria. CDMOs must demonstrate deep technical expertise to enable rapid and seamless technology transfer, a strong and consistent regulatory track record, and the operational agility and capacity needed to compress timelines and minimize time-to-market — without sacrificing quality or compliance at any stage.