Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, regional manufacturing initiatives, and evolving supply chain risks reshaping the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturers are rethinking how biologics are produced and delivered around the world. Rather than relying on centralized production models, many organizations are expanding regional manufacturing footprints and developing more integrated production networks designed to improve resilience, reduce operational risk, and support long-term supply continuity.<br><br>In this episode of Off Script, we spoke with Jeff Mason, VP and head of the New Jersey Sales Office at Samsung Biologics, about how CDMOs are adapting to this changing landscape. The discussion follows Samsung Biologics establishing its first U.S. manufacturing presence through the acquisition of GSK&#x27;s biologics facility in Rockville, Maryland, reflecting the broader industry shift toward regional manufacturing capacity.<br><br>The conversation explores the growing importance of regional manufacturing strategies, why customers are increasingly seeking manufacturing redundancy from the outset of commercialization, how vertically integrated service models can simplify complex supply chains, and what the next generation of global manufacturing ecosystems could look like as companies balance efficiency with resilience.

The Future of Global Biopharma Manufacturing Networks

Off Script: A Pharma Manufacturing Podcast

# Full Transcript

**Podcast:** Off Script: A Pharma Manufacturing Podcast

## Transcript

Welcome to Off Script, a Pharma Manufacturing Podcast from Pharma Manufacturing, the industry's voice for manufacturing excellence and your resource for the latest trends, insights, and data shaping the future of pharma production. And now, on to today's episode.

Welcome to Off Script, a Pharma Manufacturing Podcast. My name is Andy Lundin, Senior Editor at Pharma Manufacturing, and today we'll be discussing the evolving role of CDMOs in strengthening global biologic supply chains, expanding manufacturing capacity. And navigating the industry's growing push toward resilience and regionalization. Joining me for today's conversation is Jeff Mason, VP and Head of the New Jersey Sales Office at Samsung Biologics. Welcome, Jeff, and thanks for joining us.

Oh, thank you so much for having me. I'm really looking forward to this conversation. Yeah, I appreciate you being with us today. And to set the stage, from a high-level perspective, how would you characterize the current state of the CDMO industry? What are the most pressing challenges that Samsung Biologics and perhaps the broader industry is navigating today?

Yeah, so I guess I'd characterize CDMO space as kind of growing very steadily, if not fast, continuing, you know, but a sustained pace nonetheless. So, you know, although there's specific needs from the clients that are shifting within a modality, I think there's still a very high need for continuing both specialization and large-scale capacity build out.

Right now, of course, there's a significant amount of building going on in the U.S. with large pharma specifically. You know, and they are trying to regionalize and onshore, mostly due to some political, geopolitical, you know, pressures, I guess. So there's definitely a strong driver here. But I think there's still maintaining a strong real need for outsourcing their existing and emerging pipelines. And at least that's what we're seeing for sure.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, and I guess that kind of goes back into the shifting needs. You're just sort of, you know, where the market is, that's where you're going. That's where you need to kind of focus on it. Yeah, I mean, for sure. I mean, right now, it's just like everybody's dealing with is a certain uncertainty, right, in the direction that it's going. You know, and I think, you know, that's one of the reasons, and maybe we talk about it in a little bit, that is around why we've established a footprint in the U.S. with those very same reasons.

Right, yeah. And speaking of that uncertainty, supply chain resilience has become a central focus amid the geopolitical instability, drug shortages, and increasing complexity in biologics. Where do you think the industry is still most vulnerable today, and how can a more resilient supply chain begin to address those gaps? Yeah, I think, you know, I've been in this industry in CDMO for 30 plus years now myself.

And, you...

The Future of Global Biopharma Manufacturing Networks

Transcript

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Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
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The Future of Global Biopharma Manufacturing Networks

Transcript

Built for investment professionals

Every day you wait, your competitors are findingedge in conversations you're not hearing.

Every day you wait, your competitors are finding
edge in conversations you're not hearing.