Supplier–Developer Collaboration and Manufacturing Simplification Are Keys to Unlocking Gene Therapy's Full Potential, says FUJIFILM Biosciences’ Brandon Pence

In the continuation of his interview with BioPharm International® at the 2026 BIO International Convention (BIO 2026) last June, Brandon Pence, president and chief operating officer, FUJIFILM Biosciences, addresses the path toward manufacturing simplification in gene therapy, the cost-benefit case for viral vector-based treatments, and the role of supplier–developer collaboration in driving cell and gene therapy (CGT) standardization.

Pence frames manufacturing simplification as the biopharmaceutical industry's primary strategic imperative for viral vector-based gene therapies. He notes that the perceived high cost of individual gene therapies must be evaluated against the lifelong cost of care for patients who do not receive treatment, a calculation he says may favor the gene therapy in many cases. He also emphasizes that this cost-benefit argument requires active collaboration between suppliers, developers, and the broader healthcare system to be effectively communicated and acted upon.

Why is open supplier–developer collaboration critical to standardizing CGT manufacturing platforms?

Pence identifies trace element impurities as 1 specific area in which supplier expertise directly affects manufacturing outcomes. He says suppliers bring knowledge of how impurities in raw materials and media can influence cell line performance and viral vector quality, which is information developers and manufacturers may not independently possess. Sharing that knowledge across organizational boundaries can consistently ensure quality, he explains.

"That sharing of information, that knowledge between the two organizations, always leads to a better outcome," Pence states.

He draws a parallel to the development of monoclonal antibody manufacturing, in which the open collaboration between suppliers and developers over several decades has produced the standardized, scalable platforms the industry relies on today. He notes that CGTs are at an analogous inflection point. The key challenge, he acknowledges, is that open information sharing conflicts with the proprietary technology interests that remain central to competitive differentiation in the space.

BIO 2026 occurred June 22–25 in San Diego.

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About the speaker

Brandon Pence, President and Chief Operating Officer, FUJIFILM Biosciences

Pence joined FUJIFILM Biosciences in his current role in 2024. He has direct oversight of teams in global manufacturing and quality, finance, R&D, human resources, and all commercial operations for the business. Prior to joining FUJIFILM Biosciences, he was vice president of Business Development and Strategy at Avantor Sciences and has held vice president/general manager positions at Thermo Fisher Scientific leading a variety of businesses including Cell Biology, Purification, and Pharma Analytics. Prior to that, Pence led market development and strategy for GE Healthcare’s bioprocessing division (now known as Cytiva). Pence is a graduate of Utah State University and started his career as a scientist working in the development of cell culture processes for mammalian and insect cells prior to moving into business-focused roles.