Beyond Price: Why CDMO Partnerships Are Becoming More Strategic in Pharma

Contract manufacturing capacity is driving change across the pharmaceutical industry, and procurement and supply chain leaders must rethink the way they select, structure and manage CDMO partnerships. Executives from Bayer, Pfizer, Vetter Pharma and NTC Pharma address the topiс at the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Packaging Congress (PHARMAP) 2027, running 19-20 April in Berlin.

Demand for biologics manufacturing, combined with limited fill-finish and specialised production capability, is pushing pharma companies toward more strategic make-or-buy decisions. Choosing the wrong CDMO partner, or structuring a partnership without clear governance, now carries higher risk than in previous years, when spare capacity made switching suppliers easier.

During  PHARMAP 2027, delegates have an opportunity to discuss these questions with the industry leaders in session, dedicated to outsourcing and contract manufacturing processes.

• Ulrich Rümenapp, Senior Biotech Program Lead at Bayer, covers make-or-buy decisions for biologics development and manufacturing and the criteria behind effective CDMO selection.
• Yassin Farag, Contract Manufacturing Lead at Bayer, examines the embedded CMO model and what it means in practice for both sponsor and manufacturer.
• Mietje De Volder, Supply Chain & Business Development at Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium, presents a case study on solving technical problems collaboratively under time pressure to deliver a launch at speed.
• Sebastian Mueller, Director Specialised Business Development at Vetter Pharma, argues that predictability and transparency have become the real currency in CDMO relationships.
• Silvia Regondi, Chief Operating Officer at NTC Pharma, closes the session with a look at expanding leadership in ophthalmology through the integration of a complex portfolio and its CMO network.

The panel fits within PHARMAP 2027's wider focus: as capacity constraints reshape outsourcing, partnership structure and governance matter as much as price. Delegates get the insights directly from companies managing these relationships at scale.

Further information and registration are available: https://sh.bgs.group/58x