88TWENTYFOURSEVENBIOPHARMA Issue 1 / March 2026 This is a long-running topic that doesn’t have a single answer. Fundamentally there have been concerns over outsourcing to certain regions of the world over data security, data integrity, quality and over-reliance on supply chains from some territories specifically for much of my career. The BioSecure Act that was finally passed at the end of 2025 no longer named specific companies and thus far hasn’t been so impactful as originally may have been expected. Different customers make different decisions as to how they respond to these factors and, indeed, a single company may make different decisions on separate drugs. For companies like Arcinova, it has always been critical that we lead with value, that we demonstrate how working with us provides stronger value than working with providers who simply have a lower cost base. Arcinova has been able to work creatively with partners to develop alternative strategies and circumvent reliance on single supply chains. Overall, it does feel that more decisions are made to move away from simple cost-based decisions, particularly when investment in pharma is increasingly driven by data and Arcinova, like other service providers, has had to develop its offering to respond to that. Are customers prioritising cost control over resilience and innovation, or are you seeing a more balanced approach emerge? It is almost always a balance, but evident that a CRDMO needs to understand very clearly what is important to every individual customer for each individual program – it is futile to focus on cost-driven measures where a customer is looking for innovation and quality. We have to recognise that each drug substance has unique properties associated with molecular structure and material characteristics, and a bespoke approach will always benefit our clients in translating the molecule from discovery to clinical trials. As well as providing technical guidance, it is equally important that we recognise the business objectives of our clients. A good example of this was a discussion I had with a customer where using a low-cost supplier for an early intermediate wasn’t compatible with a desire to have a fully localised supply chain. Security of supply is often much more important to an innovator than the marginal cost saving on an early intermediate for an API. Where do you see the most meaningful growth opportunities in the next 12–18 months - geographically or technologically? I am naturally biased towards small molecules – the fact that they are typically delivered orally is an inherent advantage over more complex therapeutics that are intravenously. Whilst the initial drugs targeting obesity have been peptides, the number of companies investigating oral candidates for obesity has grown significantly. The large market & hence higher potential return attracts investors. So I do expect to see significant growth in our small molecules driven business, not only driven by this but other therapy areas where oral delivery is a patient preference. Arcinova is active in more complex therapeutics, expanding our RNA services in GMP manufacturing & supply in 2026 & we do expect this to be a growth area - but our growth in the next 18 months is much more aligned to small molecules. What is the biggest misconception pharma companies currently have about the CDMO/API supply environment? Most Pharma companies come to a CRDMO with what is essentially a solution rather than a problem statement. Perhaps to clarify, they will translate what is needed into a set of tasks that they ask the CRDMO to accomplish. What I repeatedly find, is that having a discussion on what the Pharma company is actually trying to achieve leads to stronger solutions. One of the best bits of feedback I ever had was that we had “delivered a solution that I couldn’t have imagined to a problem I didn’t know I had”. Few Pharma companies have pipelines that come anywhere close to the number of programs that a CRDMO delivers in a single year, not tapping into that expertise is a missed opportunity. How would you describe the mood of the outsourcing market right now - stabilising, cautious, or entering a new growth cycle? Cautious, but tilting into a selective new growth cycle. Biotech funding is still bumpy where some small/mid biotechs are delaying programs, and price pressure on CDMOs remains high. High‑value modalities (biologics, ADCs, cell/gene, HPAPIs) and complex small molecules continue to drive above‑market DCAT ROUNDTABLE JOANNE ANDERSON Chief Commercial Officer Symbiosis
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