PharmaSource Podcast

“In Big Pharma, innovation is often stifled because the bureaucracy and mindset completely kills creativity and intuition needed for discovery. That’s why they now prefer to allocate their early-phase resources to smaller biotechs,” explains Julien Laizé, sharing candid insights about the delicate balance between innovation and compliance in vaccine manufacturing Julien Laizé serves as Director of External Manufacturing CTM at Valneva, a French-based specialty vaccine company developing and commercialising vaccines for infectious diseases. With previous roles at Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, Julien brings unique perspectives on managing external manufacturing across both big pharma and biotech environments, particularly in navigating the tension between innovation and regulatory compliance. Ahead of CDMO Live next week, Julien shares his experiences in fostering innovation while maintaining rigorous quality standards, and explains why the industry’s greatest discoveries often come from embracing calculated risks. Listen to the full episode here [https://pharmasource.global/content/podcast/how-to-balance-risk-taking-with-quality-in-vaccine-development-valneva-external-manufacturing-interview/] and join Julien and other ExM leaders at CDMO Live 2025 [https://pharmasource.global/events/cdmolive/], 7-8 May, Rotterdam.

“We are privately owned by a Trust, which means all our profits are reinvested in the company. This translates to steady growth – maybe slower compared to other service providers, but we’re quite proud of that steady growth,” explains Franciane Chevot, Senior Business Development Manager at Almac. With 55 years of industry experience, approximately 7,500 employees, and 18 facilities worldwide across Europe, North America, and Asia, Almac has established a global footprint. However, it’s their ownership structure that truly differentiates them. This reinvestment approach has allowed Almac to take a long-term view of business development rather than focusing on short-term gains, creating stability that benefits both the company and its clients.Ahead of CDMO Live, Franciane shares how Almac’s unique ownership structure, scientific expertise, and customer-centric approach have positioned the CDMO as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical and biotech companies across the drug development lifecycle. Read the article [https://pharmasource.global/content/podcast/55-years-of-scientific-excellence-how-almacs-trust-ownership-drives-cdmo-success/]

“AI doesn’t have to be the first port of call. Many organisations still need to focus on the paper-to-glass journey before they can think about more advanced technologies”  Vishnu Dwadasi, Director of Life Sciences at West Monroe, brings extensive experience across pharmaceutical operations, consulting and business development from both the sponsor and CDMO sides. His career path through companies including Catalent, BioDuro, PII and now West Monroe has given him unique insights into the evolving pharmaceutical outsourcing landscape. In the latest PharmaSource podcast episode, Vishnu shares his perspective on how private equity investments are reshaping the CDMO landscape, post-merger integration challenges, and the realistic pace of digital transformation within pharmaceutical manufacturing organisations. Read the article [https://pharmasource.global/content/podcast/digital-maturity-in-cdmos-practical-steps-for-integration-success-in-a-pe-driven-landscape/]

“Our goal is to be more than a service provider. We aim to be a strategic partner that grows with our clients from bench to bedside.” – Dr. Jim Li Dr. Jim Li, President of CMC Solutions at BioDuro, brings extensive experience as a chemist and pharmaceutical industry veteran, having held leadership positions at global companies including Pfizer and Henkel before joining BioDuro to build up and manage the company’s CMC business. In the latest PharmaSource podcast episode, Jim explains how BioDuro’s integrated CRDMO model creates higher value outcomes for clients while balancing cost considerations with speed to market. Read the full article [https://pharmasource.global/content/podcast/bioduro-building-strategic-partnerships-through-integrated-crdmo-services/]

“Managing hundreds of products across multiple species requires a different approach to network strategy than human pharma,” explains Bernhard Boehm, Head of External Manufacturing for Animal Health at Boehringer Ingelheim. Bernhard Boehm leads external manufacturing for animal health as VP of 3PM at Boehringer Ingelheim, bringing nearly 20 years of pharmaceutical experience across regulatory, quality, R&D, and site management roles before transitioning to animal health five years ago. Ahead of CDMO Live, Bernhard explains how animal health manufacturing differs fundamentally from human pharmaceuticals, requiring specific strategies to manage a complex portfolio across multiple species while facing tighter margins and diverse customer needs. Read Boehringer Ingelheim’s Six Strategic Approaches to External Manufacturing Networks [https://pharmasource.global/content/podcast/animal-health-manufacturing-boehringer-ingelheims-six-strategic-approaches-to-external-manufacturing-networks/]