A Fragmented Outsourcing Landscape: The Difficulties Of Working With Multiple Siloed Partners

Outsourcing mRNA manufacturing has become a popular option for companies, but it comes with its fair share of challenges and risks. The current landscape is highly fragmented, making it difficult for companies to navigate and find reliable suppliers. This fragmentation leads to a greater burden of vetting and qualification, as companies must thoroughly assess each potential supplier to ensure they meet the necessary standards.

Furthermore, managing and coordinating multiple suppliers can be a logistical nightmare. Different suppliers may have different processes and protocols, leading to knowledge siloes and potential inconsistencies in manufacturing. This lack of cohesion can hinder scalability and technology transfer, making it difficult for companies to efficiently scale up production or transfer their manufacturing processes to another supplier if needed.

Working with multiple suppliers also increases the risk factor. With more suppliers involved, there is a higher chance of quality issues or delays, which can ultimately impact the time to market for mRNA programs. Additionally, having multiple suppliers can limit flexibility, as companies may be locked into contracts or face challenges in coordinating production schedules.

To overcome these challenges and mitigate risks, companies need to carefully consider their outsourcing strategy. Rather than spreading their manufacturing across multiple suppliers, companies should seek out reliable partners who can offer a comprehensive solution. By working with a single supplier that can handle the entire manufacturing value chain, companies can reduce risk, improve flexibility, and accelerate their time to market.