Conclusion

Outsourcing is an important strategy in the pharmaceutical industry to meet the growing number of challenges. Because the outsourcing relationship is long-term, it influences future lifecycles of a drug and requires investments of time and money. It is a fundamental decision that must be made in the early phases of a drug's development, when there is time to find the right partner and develop a strong relationship. A good contract manufacturer provides the necessary support throughout all stages of a drug's development. It gives the pharmaceutical company the time and resources to focus on its core business—researching and developing lifesaving drugs and marketing them.

Max Horn is a managing director at Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co. KG, Ravensburg, Germany, +49.751.3700.0.