10 Questions To Ask When Choosing A Cell Therapy CDMO

By Mike Paglia, Chief Technology Officer

Selecting the right cell‑therapy manufacturing partner is presented as a pivotal strategic decision that can determine whether a therapy advances successfully or faces avoidable setbacks. Drawing on extensive industry experience, the author outlines a practical, insight‑driven framework built around ten targeted questions designed to expose a partner’s true performance rather than relying on polished claims. Topics include evaluating historic manufacturing success rates, assessing operational transparency, scrutinizing deviation and batch‑failure data, and understanding the tenure and expertise of the teams who will manage daily program execution.

The guidance emphasizes that manufacturing consistency, quality discipline, and proven technical capability are foundational to long‑term program success. Rather than treating CDMO selection as a transactional choice, the piece urges readers to view it as a mission‑critical partnership requiring deep due diligence. The result is a clear, experience‑backed roadmap for organizations seeking to reduce risk and choose a partner capable of supporting complex cell‑therapy programs.