CPHI Podcast Series: How to build a successful CDMO partnership

The latest in our series for the CPHI Podcast Series focuses on partnerships, specifically those between pharma companies and CDMOs. Expert Christine Fürst from Vetter comments on how to make successful and lasting partnerships in the industry. 

Christine Fürst has been with Vetter since the early 1990s serving in various functions throughout the globally operating CDMO. Her roles have included customer service, supply chain and key account management. Fürst has supported multinational big-pharma companies at Vetter since 2001, bringing her background in economics to the forefront of her work. Beginning in 2011, Fürst began leading the Key Account Management Europe Team, incorporating additional global matrix functions like Demand Management and Pharmaceutical/Technical Alliance Management to her repertoire.

In this podcast we discuss the relationship between pharma companies and CDMOs and the impacts this relationship has on a business' vision for the future.

Taking into consideration that although the practical and technical aspects have to line up, more and more partnerships are placing value in the corporations seeing ‘eye to eye’ because they want the relationship to grow and flourish. Fürst stated after the call that the notion that a partnership was built on certain things which then don’t always hold true and then being stuck in a partnership that doesn’t work, that much be a really difficult thing for a company, so getting it right first time is really very important, and anything you can do to ensure that when looking for a partner will only be beneficial. 

We also cover how companies are taking sustainability seriously, investing conscientiously in sustainable practices and ESG, making sure it’s certainly not a trend but something that is an ongoing part of the industry, and is part of the values that companies put forward to be matched and elevated through their partnerships. 

Events such as CPHI, where companies have the chance to come together on a global platform and discuss dynamics and values are an important piece of the puzzle where these partnerships can start, and also enable strong connections to be maintained and nurtured as they come together over the years. 

Make sure you listen to the full episode for Fürst's full insights into the topic.