Off Script: A Pharma Manufacturing Podcast

Charting Pharma Manufacturing Trends: Part One

Based on insights from CRB’s Horizons: Life Sciences 2025 report, this episode of Off Script: A Pharma Manufacturing Podcast features a conversation with Peter Walters, Fellow of Advanced Therapies at CRB. Walters discusses how the industry is advancing toward continuous manufacturing, highlighted by a key finding from the report — 65% of large companies are pursuing end-to-end continuous manufacturing.

This is part one of a two-part series. In part two, dropping Oct. 14, 2025, Walters will return to explore advanced therapies, tariffs, and regulatory changes shaping the global pharma manufacturing landscape.

Editor’s (re)View: It matters if Big Pharma is fudging its US investment numbers

Large biopharma companies in recent months have pledged billions of dollars in capital expenditures for U.S. manufacturing and R&D facilities. What if it’s not accurate?

Greg Slabodkin

Read by Brittany Duncan 

https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/editors-review/article/55314470/editors-review-it-matters-if-big-pharma-is-fudging-its-us-investment-numbers 

Can CDMOs keep up with the increasing demand for GLP-1 medications?

The wildly popular drugs, prescribed for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, are putting a strain on the capabilities of contract development and manufacturing organizations.

Greg Slabodkin

Read by Brittany Duncan

https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/sector/contract-manufacturing/article/55314756/can-cdmos-keep-up-with-the-increasing-demand-for-glp-1-medications 

FDA’s program to speed up US manufacturing buildouts is short on detail

 

While the agency’s PreCheck regulatory framework is a good first step, it remains to be seen whether the program boosts U.S. drug manufacturing, says former FDA official.

Greg Slabodkin

 

Read by Brittany Duncan

 

https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/all-articles/article/55309136/fdas-program-to-speed-up-us-manufacturing-buildouts-is-short-on-detail 

New Jersey remains hot life sciences hub despite macroeconomic, funding headwinds

 

The Garden State, called the “medicine chest” to the world, continues to show robust activity with life sciences firms accounting for nearly 30% of all Q2 leasing activity.

Greg Slabodkin

 

Read by Brittany Duncan 

 

https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/all-articles/article/55308250/new-jersey-remains-hot-life-sciences-hub-despite-macroeconomic-funding-headwinds 

Critical Timing: Hikma’s Billion-Dollar U.S. Investment

Generics, which make up approximately 90% of prescription volume in the U.S., are produced primarily in India as Hikma looks to onshore production of these critical drugs.

Greg Slabodkin

Read by Brittany Duncan 

https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/all-articles/article/55302441/hikmas-planned-1b-us-investment-comes-at-critical-time-for-generic-medicines-supply 

Editor’s (re)View: Is the biopharma industry’s glass half empty or half full?

While macroeconomic uncertainty weighs on the sector, there are glimmers of hope in some areas of pharmaceutical outsourcing and services.

Greg Slabodkin

Read by Brittany Duncan 

Read Article Here: https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/editors-review/article/55299879/editors-review-is-the-biopharma-industrys-glass-half-empty-or-half-full 

Life sciences manufacturers overwhelmingly embrace smart tech: global survey

Smart manufacturing is “nearly universal” with 95% of manufacturers saying they are using or evaluating smart technology, according to a new survey from Rockwell Automation.

Greg Slabodkin

Read by Brittany Duncan

Flow state: The evolving shape of continuous manufacturing

While the pharmaceutical industry has been slow to adopt continuous manufacturing, it appears to be gaining momentum.

Greg Slabodkin

Read by Brittany Duncan 

Enjoy the article Here: https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/all-articles/article/55295669/flow-state-the-evolving-shape-of-continuous-manufacturing 

[Solutions Spotlight] Hydrogenation: Bridging the gap between nitration and phosgenation

Hydrogenation can serve as a critical link in chemical synthesis, particularly between nitration and phosgenation. When integrated strategically, it helps enable safer, more efficient production processes.

To better understand this connection, we spoke with Dr. Luca Mantilli, R&D Chemist at Valsynthese, the fine chemicals division of Société Suisse des Explosifs Holding (SSE). Dr. Mantilli discussed how hydrogenation was implemented to bridge the gap between two of the company’s core hazardous chemistries: nitration and phosgenation.

Learn more about Valsynthese: https://www.valsynthese.ch/