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Is an Indian CDMO the right move for your biologics CMC development?

Pulling back the curtain on what might be your next strategic manufacturing advantage, this episode reveals the hidden capabilities emerging from India that leading biotech companies are racing to access. As supply chain vulnerabilities continue to expose risks in traditional manufacturing models, could the solution lie halfway around the world?

Joining us to reveal the inside story is Abdelaziz Toumi, CEO of Lupin Manufacturing Solutions and veteran of global pharma giants like Bayer, Merck and Lonza. With over 20 years in biotech, Abdelaziz brings unique insights on when and why you might want to look beyond traditional Western manufacturing partners. Our host, David Brühlmann, leverages his 15+ years of biotech industry experience to extract the practical insights you need to make informed decisions about your manufacturing strategy.

In this second segment, we'll dive deeper into the Indian CDMO and biomanufacturing landscape. Then we'll explore Lupin's specialized capabilities and finally extract Abdelaziz's most valuable leadership insight from his role as a CEO.

Key insights from this episode:

• The One-Stop Solution Advantage: Discover how Lupin is building rare end-to-end manufacturing capabilities for complex modalities like Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) - potentially eliminating the headache of managing multiple manufacturing partners across continents.
• Beyond Labor Cost Advantages: "Digitalization plays a key role, especially if you are operating in a cost-competitive space," explains Abdelaziz. Learn how Indian CDMOs are strategically automating key processes to drive both efficiency and quality, challenging Western perceptions.
• Leadership Across Cultures: "Listen, listen, listen," emphasizes Abdelaziz when discussing cross-cultural leadership. Understand the subtle communication dynamics that can make or break a global manufacturing partnership, especially when navigating hierarchy-sensitive cultures.

Whether you're actively evaluating Indian manufacturing options or simply preparing for the shifting global biotech landscape, these next several minutes deliver insights you can't afford to miss.

Listen to the full episode to extract the specific capability indicators that will help you determine if and when an Indian CDMO partnership makes strategic sense for your unique biologics pipeline.

Want to find out more about the CDMO selection? Here’s what one of our distinguished guests had to say about it:

• Episodes 103-104: One-Stop Shop vs. Specialist CDMO: A Scientist's Guide to CDMO Selection with Sigma Mostafa

Connect with Abdelaziz Toumi:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/abdelaziztoumi

Lupin Manufacturing Solutions: www.lupin.com

Next step:

Transform your process development strategy with a complimentary consultation. Schedule your expert session: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call

Ready to scale up? Join our exclusive 1:1 Strategy Call and learn proven methods to reduce development and manufacturing costs while maintaining product quality. Our bioprocess experts will help you navigate complex bioprocessing challenges and regulatory requirements. Limited spots available: https://stan.store/SmartBiotech

Send us a text

Is an Indian CDMO the right move for your biologics pipeline?

As Western biotech companies seek new strategic advantages, one question keeps surfacing: Is India truly becoming the next biotech manufacturing powerhouse? And what hidden capabilities are emerging that leading companies are racing to access?

In this episode of the Smart Biotech Scientist Podcast, Abdelaziz Toumi, CEO of Lupin Manufacturing Solutions and veteran of global pharma giants like Bayer, Merck, and Lonza, joins host David Brühlmann to reveal the inside story on when and why you might want to look beyond traditional Western manufacturing partners.

Here are three key insights from their conversation:

• The Post-Pandemic Manufacturing Revelation: "During the pandemic, we realized how vulnerable our supply chain truly is," explains Abdelaziz. Discover why diversifying manufacturing partnerships isn't just smart—it's becoming essential for resilience in an unpredictable world.
• Beyond the Cost Advantage: While Indian CDMOs can deliver up to 80% cost savings compared to Western counterparts, Abdelaziz reveals the unexpected advantages that make the most strategic partnerships about far more than budget considerations.
• The Trust Factor: "This is a business of trust," emphasizes Abdelaziz. Learn the critical questions that separate world-class Indian CDMOs from the rest, and the cultural nuances that can make or break your manufacturing partnership.

Ready to discover if Indian CDMOs could be the missing piece in your biologics development strategy? Tune in for expert insights on IP protection, talent access, and how to navigate the cultural dynamics that determine success in this emerging manufacturing powerhouse.

Listen to the full episode to unlock the strategic advantage that could transform your pipeline's journey from lab to market.

Want to find out more about the CDMO selection? Here’s what one of our distinguished guests had to say about it:

• Episodes 103-104: One-Stop Shop vs. Specialist CDMO: A Scientist's Guide to CDMO Selection with Sigma Mostafa

Connect with Abdelaziz Toumi:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/abdelaziztoumi

Lupin Manufacturing Solutions: www.lupin.com

Next step:

Transform your process development strategy with a complimentary consultation. Schedule your expert session: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call

Ready to scale up? Join our exclusive 1:1 Strategy Call and learn proven methods to reduce development and manufacturing costs while maintaining product quality. Our bioprocess experts will help you navigate complex bioprocessing challenges and regulatory requirements. Limited spots available: https://stan.store/SmartBiotech

Send us a text

As biotech labs rush to adopt AI tools for cell culture media development, a critical question emerges: Are we creating a generation of scientists who know which buttons to push but not why they're pushing them? The automation trap that once transformed laboratory workflows now threatens to fundamentally alter how we understand the complex dynamics of culture media composition and performance.

In this second part of our conversation with Tom Fletcher, R&D Director at Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, host David Brühlmann explores the practical challenges of implementing AI in cell culture media development while preserving the scientific thinking that drives true innovation.

Key Insights from Their Conversation:

• The Knowledge Generation Imperative: "Don't just think of your job as picking winners out of random experiments," Tom warns. He emphasizes that scientists must prioritize understanding why a specific media formulation works, not just that it works—a distinction that becomes critical as AI makes high-throughput media screening increasingly accessible.
• Bridging Disciplinary Divides: As teams become more diverse—incorporating data scientists, automation specialists, and traditional bioprocess experts—success depends on creating a collaborative culture where specialists learn to leverage each other's strengths without expecting everyone to have the same foundation in cell culture fundamentals.
• The Future Bioprocessing Landscape: Tom predicts that while platform media will dominate for speed to clinic, human roles will evolve toward managing automated, digitalized processes with fewer but more technically specialized staff. The media developers who thrive will be those who can maintain scientific rigor while harnessing the power of automation.

For biotech leaders navigating this technological transition, Tom's advice is clear: "Embrace AI because I think we all believe it's valuable, but don't allow lazy science to creep in... if you don't resist it, people are going to get lazy and just say 'I've got this supercomputer and I know which buttons to push.' That's not good enough."

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to explore how it all began:

• Episodes 1-2: Unlock the Power of Rational Media Design in Bioprocessing with Tom Fletcher

Connect with Tom Fletcher:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tomfletcher2

FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific: www.irvinesci.com

The views and opinions expressed by Tom Fletcher are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Fujifilm Irvine Scientific or its affiliates.

Next step:

Transform your cell culture media development strategy with a complimentary consultation. Schedule your expert session: https://bruehlmann-consulting.com/call

Ready to scale up? Join our exclusive 1:1 Strategy Call and learn proven methods to reduce development and manufacturing costs while maintaining product quality. Our bioprocess experts will help you navigate complex bioprocessing challenges and regulatory requirements. Limited spots available: https://stan.store/SmartBiotech

Note: These are Tom’s personal opinions and not his company’s.