**London**: Simon Wright from Almac Pharma Services discusses the diversification of therapeutic modalities in the biopharma sector, highlighting the shift towards biologics and strategic partnerships with contract development and manufacturing organisations to enhance innovation and treat rare diseases.
The bio/pharma industry is undergoing significant diversification in its therapeutic modalities, as highlighted by Simon Wright, the Vice President of Business Development for Almac Pharma Services, in a recent discussion. Wright noted that while there remains a consistent demand for traditional small molecules, there is a notable increase in the growth rate of biologics, vaccines, cell and gene therapies, and, more recently, peptides. This shift reflects evolving trends within the field, particularly in how drugs are administered, which now includes a greater inclination towards drug-device combinations alongside conventional methods like oral and injectable forms.
Adding context to these developments, Wright pointed out that increasing regulatory and financial incentives are drawing attention toward innovative drugs aimed at treating rare and challenging diseases. These conditions often involve smaller patient populations, necessitating a more tailored approach from pharmaceutical companies. In this landscape, contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs) are expected to exhibit flexibility as strategic partners to innovators in the industry.
“There’s really a desire for more of a strategic partnership versus maybe more of that traditional transaction relationship [from sponsor companies],” Wright said, reflecting a shift in how pharmaceutical companies perceive the role of CDMOs within their operational ecosystems. He highlighted that the most effective relationships today are rooted in this strategic partnership model, where companies utilise the specialised expertise provided by CDMOs and trust them to take on greater responsibilities to add substantial value to their processes.
Wright leads the business development team at Almac Pharma Services, covering both Europe and North America, and has approximately 30 years of experience in the CDMO sector. His insights into the evolving dynamics of business relationships in the biopharma industry underscore the growing importance of strategic collaboration between pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs, paving the way for advancements in the development of novel therapeutic solutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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