86TWENTYFOURSEVENBIOPHARMA Issue 1 / March 2026 How would you describe the mood of the outsourcing market right now: stabilizing, cautious, or entering a new growth cycle? The outsourcing market is moving back into growth mode as key players’ pipelines and innovation rebound and outsourcing demand rises. At the same time, geopolitical uncertainty, especially across regional manufacturing networks, is keeping decisions cautious—so momentum is real, but the tone is measured. To what extent are geopolitical pressures reshaping sourcing decisions, particularly around regionalisation and dual sourcing? Geopolitical pressures are an important backdrop to sourcing decisions, especially in bioprocessing. While cost and efficiency still matter, there is greater focus on managing risk, which is accelerating thoughtful conversations around regionalisation and dual sourcing as practical ways to ensure continuity and resilience for critical resin supply. Are customers prioritising cost control over resilience and innovation, or are you seeing a more balanced approach emerge? Customers continue to lead with innovation, while also focusing on cost control to help them deliver more affordable, accessible medicines. As suppliers, we’re focused on enabling both with a more advanced and flexible resin toolbox that helps customers improve efficiency and manage costs without compromising long-term competitiveness. Where do you see the most meaningful growth opportunities in the next 12–18 months - geographically or technologically? The most meaningful growth opportunities are technological. Pipelines are growing, particularly with more complex molecules, and innovation continues to concentrate around established modalities like mAbs. At the same time, the patent cliff and continued biosimilar growth are expanding access to medicines, creating demand for efficient, scalable bioprocessing solutions. How would you describe the mood of the outsourcing market right now: stabilizing, cautious, or entering a new growth cycle? The market is evolving. Biopharma innovators are expanding their definition of what outsourcing can mean. CDMOs remain essential for some therapeutic modalities, but we’re seeing growing interest in models that offer cleanroom infrastructure without requiring companies to hand over process control. The shift is most visible in early-stage development. Companies are asking: “Can our existing cash runway support tech transfer delays to our CDMO, or, do we need full-scale GMP infrastructure while we generate first in human data?” These questions are exactly why we built Chrysalis. We’re seeing significant interest from companies that want the infrastructure without the loss of control. I’d describe the mood as selectively innovative. Companies are matching their manufacturing strategy to their stage of development rather than defaulting to a single approach for all phases. To what extent are geopolitical pressures reshaping sourcing decisions, particularly around regionalisation and dual sourcing? Regionalization is creating real opportunity, particularly in the U.S. The push to manufacture closer to R&D hubs is benefiting markets like the Boston biotech corridor and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. We positioned Chrysalis facilities in Burlington and Waltham, Massachusetts, and Raleigh, North Carolina specifically for this reason. Companies want proximity to their science and the right talent. For early- and mid-stage companies, the priority is speed and access more than geopolitical hedging. The question is whether they can get into GMPcompliant space within weeks, not months or even years. The geographic shift is happening, but it’s driven by operational needs as much as supply chain concerns. Companies want manufacturing close to where innovation is happening. DCAT ROUNDTABLE NICK MAZZUCCA SVP, Business Development Chrysalis MEETA GULYANI GM, Bioprocessing & Head of Life Science Strategy Ecolab Life Sciences
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