CDMO Selection For Small Biotech: Amit Jain On Avoiding Costly Transfers

For small biotech companies, choosing a CDMO is often driven by immediate budget and phase-specific needs. Amit Jain, Senior Director of Drug Product and CMC at QurAlis, argues that this approach can create costly delays and repeated tech transfers later in development. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, he shares practical strategies for selecting a partner that can support a program from Phase 1 through commercialization.

Key considerations include evaluating a CDMO's long-term capabilities, understanding how work is distributed across global site networks, and testing claims of scheduling flexibility before contracts are signed. Amit also highlights why strong relationships, clear governance structures, and realistic capacity planning can be as important as technical expertise. Finally, he explains the planning elements that separate successful tech transfers from troubled ones, offering a clear framework for reducing risk, protecting timelines, and controlling development costs.