Balancing Industry Innovations with Pragmatic Solutions

Editor's note: this interview was originally published on PharmTech.com.

Three critical drivers in contemporary biopharmaceutical production strategies are: scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, says Jerry Keybl, senior vice-president, Biopharma Products and Strategy, Avantor. In addition, Keybl attended INTERPHEX 2025 this past April and shared some of his impressions of the energy at that show around these themes.

Keybl emphasizes how the bioprocessing sector is experiencing significant transformation today, driven by supply chain disruptions, regionalization, and the emergence of diverse therapeutic modalities. He underscores the importance of developing future-proof bioprocessing technologies.

"Innovations today really have to be future-proof. They have to support manufacturing all the way from clinical trials to commercialization. Sometimes the challenges are different at different stages of the development, and the decisions you make early on can really impact the success as a commercialization approaches," he says.

Manufacturing flexibility is increasingly crucial, he also points out, explaining that facilities are transitioning from single-process to multi-product and multi-modality platforms. Therefore, there is a need for adaptable technologies that can accommodate diverse product requirements while maintaining operational efficiency.

Buffer management is also emerging as a crucial area for optimization, with solutions such as ready-to-use buffers and direct dispense packaging systems (solutions that Avantor offers) allowing for the reduction of labor costs and improved process efficiency.

One key takeaway from the show that made an impression on Keybl was that the bio/pharmaceutical industry is currently focused on practical innovation, balancing excitement about new modalities with a pragmatic approach to solving real-world manufacturing challenges.

Click the video above to view the full interview.

About the speaker

Jerry Keybl, Senior Vice-President, Biopharma Products and Strategy, Avantor

Jerry Keybl is senior vice-president of Biopharma Products and Strategy at Avantor, leading integrated product strategy and execution across traditional and novel biopharma modalities. He previously held product management, marketing, and strategy roles at MilliporeSigma, with a focus on cell and gene therapies, and served as a project leader at the Boston Consulting Group.