Top 7 pharmaceutical CDMOs in 2024

Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations – commonly referred to as CDMOs – are highly requested partners for pharmaceutical companies. They are specialized in taking over dedicated processes along the supply chain of pharmaceuticals, relieving small start-ups as well as established biotech companies.

In this article, we will discuss the characteristics of CDMOs along with the services that are typically offered, before giving you our top 7 pharmaceutical companies in 2024.

Definition – what is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization?

A Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) is a specialized entity within the pharmaceutical industry that offers specialized services encompassing both drug development and manufacturing processes. CDMOs serve pharmaceutical companies by providing end-to-end solutions for the production of drug products, from early-stage development through clinical trials to commercial manufacturing.

These organizations aid in shaping the pharmaceutical industry by offering expertise, infrastructure, and resources that pharmaceutical companies may not possess in-house. Pharma companies often outsource various stages of drug development and manufacturing to CDMOs to leverage their specialized capabilities and streamline the production process.

CDMOs enable pharmaceutical companies to focus on core competencies while benefiting from the CDMO's proficiency in areas such as formulation development, analytical testing, process optimization, and regulatory compliance of pharmaceutical products.

Distinguishing CDMOs from CMOs and CROs

Distinguishing between CDMOs, CMOs, and CROs requires understanding the unique roles each entity plays in the pharmaceutical industry.

CDMOs

• Manufacturing services: These organizations provide end-to-end manufacturing services, covering biomanufacturing process steps from early development to commercial manufacturing.
• CDMO partnership: Collaborating with a CDMO involves a strategic partnership where the organization either offers a variety of services itself or manages further process outsourcing to even more specialized partners.

CMOs

• Manufacturing services: CMOs primarily focus on manufacturing, providing pharmaceutical companies with the capacity to bring the pharmaceutical production from the development stage to commercial manufacturing.
• Manufacturing Capabilities: CMOs specialize in manufacturing processes, offering expertise in large-scale production (often including formulation, packaging, and labeling) without covering the entire drug development life cycle.

CROs

• Research services: CROs primarily concentrate on research activities, providing services related to clinical trials, data collection, and analysis during the drug development phase.
• Manufacturing processes: Unlike CDMOs, CROs are not typically involved in manufacturing processes but rather focus on research and development aspects (e.g. clinical studies).

When pharma refers to CDMO services

When pharmaceutical companies choose a CDMO for specific services, typical fields include:

1. Formulation development services: Outsourcing the formulation development process may be chosen to achieve optimal drug substance characteristics.
2. Scale-up for commercialization: CDMOs assist in the crucial scale-up process, ensuring the transition from small-scale batches to large-scale commercial production.
3. Biopharmaceuticals and biologics: Pharma companies turn to CDMOs with expertise in biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and the manufacturing of biologics, including drug development for gene therapies
4. Small molecule capabilities: Whether it's small molecules on small or large-scale production, CDMOs provide versatile manufacturing solutions.
5. Timely commercialization: CDMOs play a crucial role in meeting tight timelines, ensuring fast commercialization of healthcare products.
6. Optimization and validation: Pharma companies leverage CDMOs for process optimization, validation, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and cGMP.
7. Supply chain efficiency: CDMOs contribute to a streamlined supply chain, handling raw materials, APIs, and the overall development process.

Top 7 pharmaceutical CDMOs

In the following chapters, we will present you the top 7 Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations that are ranked by annual revenue and are expected to shape the CDMO market in 2024 and beyond. The ranking is based on their respective revenues in 2022, highlighting the tremendous success these companies have had-and are likely to continue to have-throughout the year.¹ 

#1 – Lonza Group

Revenue 2022: USD 6.97 billion¹

Lonza Group is renowned for its global presence and cutting-edge capabilities in providing end-to-end solutions for drug development and manufacturing.

Its commitment to meeting the diverse needs of the industry, spanning from small molecules, health ingredients and capsules to biologics and CGT, positions Lonza as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical companies seeking reliable and comprehensive CDMO services. The company will continue to drive progress in various fields, such as microbial fermentation, bioconjugates, and more.

#2 – Thermo Fisher Scientific

Revenue 2022: USD 6.97 billion¹

Thermo Fisher Scientific secures its position as a prominent player in the pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) landscape. With a focus on commercial manufacturing, advanced therapies, small and large molecules as well as clinical trials, the company offers multiple end-to end services in pharmaceutical development and production – in areas like antibody production, cell culturing, and DNA technologies.

#3 – Catalent

Revenue 2022: USD 4.28 billion¹

Catalent stands as a distinguished name in the field of pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs). Specializing in providing end-to-end support, Catalent is recognized for its contributions to the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the realm of innovative drug delivery technologies.

The company’s focus lies on services concerning brand extensions in consumer health, blockbuster drugs, and personalized medicine. It plays an important role in the production of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, used in diabetes therapy. In 2024, it was announced that Novo Holdings would acquire Catalent, which would also allow increasing the production of Wegovy and Ozempic.² 

#4 – WuXi Biologics

Revenue 2022: USD 2.11 billion¹

With a global footprint and a focus on biopharmaceuticals, WuXi Biologics plays a pivotal role in advancing the development and production of complex therapeutic molecules.

The company offers a wide range of services, even extending to research processes. Exemplary fields of activity include antibody and protein services as well as vaccines, bioconjugation, and mRNA services.

#5 – Samsung Biologics

Revenue 2022: USD 1.77 billion¹

Samsung Biologics offers cutting-edge solutions for the manufacturing of complex biological drugs. The company's commitment to high-quality production from small to large-scale positions it as a strategic partner for pharmaceutical companies.

Samsung Biologics' contributions to fields like cell line development as well as the production of a variety of biopharmaceuticals make it a trusted ally in advancing the possibilities within the biopharmaceutical sector.

#6 – Siegfried AG

Revenue 2022: USD 1.38 billion¹

Siegfried is recognized for its many contributions to pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. The company's expertise spans various specialized services, making it a preferred partner for pharmaceutical companies seeking comprehensive support.

Whether engaged in APIs, process optimization, intermediates or finished drug products – Siegfried is a highly requested partner for pharma companies. Additionally, Siegfried AG has a strong focus on sustainability, aiming to make supply chains greener and more environmentally friendly.

#7 – Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

Revenue 2022: USD 1.31 billion¹

Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies holds a distinctive position in the pharmaceutical Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) sphere. It stands out as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical companies, with services in areas like fermentation, CGT, and cell culturing. In the latter, for instance, the company has extensive expertise in culturing insect cells, and is “a licensed manufacturer of a commercially approved baculovirus-expressed product”.³

Biopharma companies benefit from Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies' specialized capabilities from pre-clinical research to commercialization, ensuring a seamless journey from development to pharmaceutical manufacturing at commercial scale.³ 

Single Use Support – trusted partner for pharma companies and CDMOs

Single Use Support stands out as a reliable and strategic partner for both pharmaceutical companies and CDMOs, which increasingly use single-use systems. Specializing in providing innovative solutions for the biopharma industry, Single Use Support provides top pharmaceutical CDMOs with a range of products that contribute to the efficiency of fluid and cold chain processes.

The company’s portfolio includes the sophisticated fluid management platform RoSS.FILL, which improves process flexibility with its modular and scalable setup. The automated aliquotation solutions cover various stages in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, from lab scale to commercialization.

The plate-based freezing platform RoSS.pFTU is equally scalable and versatile, providing extensive control over the delicate freezing process of biopharmaceuticals. The controlled rate freeze and thaw platforms, available in different sizes, are a part of Single Use Support’s broad portfolio of innovative freeze and thaw solutions.

With ultra-low temperature storage freezers, bioprocess containers and several other solutions based on single-use technologies, Single Use Support is a sought-after partner for CDMOs, CMOs, CROs, and pharmaceutical companies themselves.