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What Pharma really needs From CDMOs today

September 18, 2026 · 52 min

Show notes

In this episode of Molecule to Market, you’ll go inside the outsourcing space of the global drug development sector with Frank Binder, Independent Consultant (external manufacturing and supply chain management).

Your host, Raman Sehgal, discusses the pharmaceutical and biotechnology supply chain with Frank, covering:

  • Getting hooked on supply chain management during his time at Accenture, before joining Novartis’ biopharma business during the early stages of outsourcing and CDMO management.
  • Deciding to move to Celgene, and feeling liberated by the hands-on, can-do culture of a fast growth company.
  • The intrigue of joining a highly respected Japanese pharma company to help drive global supply chain alignment.
  • Common themes in pharma and CDMO relationships, including better planning, clearer communication and secondary sourcing.
  • How CDMO selection has evolved over the last 10 to 15 years, what has changed and what remains the same, including the role of regionalisation.
  • The lens he uses to identify genuine, strategic partners he can trust.

Dr. Frank Binder is a senior supply chain leader with experience across major pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies in Switzerland, the US and Japan. He is now an independent consultant at GSCA | Global Supply Chain Advisors, having previously held senior roles at Santen, Celgene, Novartis, Roche and Accenture. His expertise spans global supply chain transformation, biologics and API production, CDMO management, international logistics, planning, NPI and SOP/IBP. Frank is a recognised pharmaceutical supply chain thought leader, regularly speaking at industry conferences across Europe, the US and Asia. He holds a doctorate in Physical Chemistry from the University of Berne, with further executive education at Cranfield University, Harvard Business School and INSEAD.

Connect with him on LinkedIn.

Molecule to Market is also sponsored by Bora Pharmaceuticals and supported by Lead Candidate. Please subscribe, tell your industry colleagues and join us in celebrating and promoting the value and importance of the global life science outsourcing space. We’d also appreciate a positive rating!

All episodes of Molecule to Market: Inside the outsourcing space

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