Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Paul Jorjorian Discusses Genetic Medicine Diversification, Partnership Trust, and Raw Material Risk in Biopharma Development

Paul Jorjorian, vice president, Development and Scientific Solutions, Thermo Fisher Scientific, spoke to BioPharm International at the 2026 BIO International Convention (BIO 2026), held June 22–25 in San Diego, about the modalities generating the most industry interest at the conference, the conditions for successful biopharma partnerships, the current funding environment, and the single development decision that carries the greatest downstream risk.

In the interview, Jorjorian describes monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and mAb variants, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and bispecific antibodies, as established and enduring modalities. He identifies genetic medicine as the area generating the most forward-looking interest at BIO 2026, noting that lipid nanoparticle-based medicines and other genetic medicine delivery systems are advancing in diverse and still-unsettled directions, with no clear dominant platform yet emerging.

What are the most critical early decisions biopharma companies must get right to avoid late-stage development failure?

On partnerships, Jorjorian notes 2 factors that determine success. The first is that the partnership must deliver clear customer value, and the second is that it must be grounded in genuine trust between parties. He explains that legal agreements alone cannot capture the complexity of a productive partnership, rather, the working relationship itself must be aligned toward shared outcomes.

Jorjorian characterizes the current funding environment as more constrained than 4 to 5 years ago, but notes that lower funding levels have produced a filtering effect, directing capital toward stronger science rather than speculative programs.

"The lack or lower levels of funding have really made it so people are funding science instead of science fiction," Jorjorian states.

On development risk, Jorjorian identifies raw material selection as the single most consequential early-stage decision, particularly as molecules previously developed in China are being re-established in US-based workflows. Switching critical raw materials late in development, he emphasizes, can introduce significant delays and derail programs that are otherwise on track. This is a risk that is appearing with increasing frequency across the industry, he says.

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About the speaker

Paul Jorjorian, Vice President, Development and Scientific Solutions, Thermo Fisher Scientific

In his role, Jorjorian is responsible for defining the R&D, process and analytical development, and manufacturing science and technology strategy for the Drug Substance business. Prior to that, he was responsible for 6 biologics drug substances manufacturing and development sites located globally as vice president Biologics. Additionally, he has held a number of roles with increasing responsibility in process development, manufacturing, and technology transfer. Before joining Thermo Fisher in 2014, Jorjorian worked for Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb and GE Plastics. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and Management from Purdue University, Ind., and a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, NY.