The Changing Economics of Pharma Manufacturing

Increased regulatory scrutiny, onshoring efforts, and supply chain vulnerabilities are reshaping how life sciences manufacturers are making investment decisions across the industry. Pharma manufacturers are weighing facility locations, workforce availability, and manufacturing costs while looking for ways to strengthen supply chain resilience and improve operational efficiency.

In this episode of Off Script, the third in our series exploring CRB’s Horizons: Life Sciences 2026 report, we spoke with Christa Myers, senior fellow of aseptic and sterile products at CRB and a co-author of the report. The conversation explored how manufacturers are evaluating established and emerging biopharma hubs, developing workforces to support advanced manufacturing technologies, and addressing supply chain risks. Myers also discussed how company size impacts decisions on investment and modernization, and the growing significance of process intensification to help manufacturers improve efficiency while keeping costs under control.