By J.D. Mowery, President, Bora CDMO Business
The CDMO industry is entering a period of meaningful transformation. Over the past decade, we’ve seen unprecedented advances in drug discovery, new modalities emerging at scale, and a growing urgency to bring innovative therapies to patients faster than ever before. At the same time, expectations placed on manufacturing partners have evolved. Sponsors are no longer looking simply for capacity; they are prioritizing collaboration, agility, and long-term partnership.
A new future is on the horizon, and I believe Bora is positioned at the forefront of this change.
From Competition to Collaboration
For much of the industry’s history, the CDMO space has been defined by intense competition. Providers have often operated in an environment where winning business meant guarding capabilities, competing aggressively, and treating relationships with drug developers as transactions rather than partnerships. That mindset may have made sense in an earlier era, but I believe it no longer serves the needs of today’s clinical and commercial landscape.
The reality is that too many patients are still waiting. Across oncology, rare disease, cell and gene therapy, and next-generation biologics, extraordinary innovations are waiting in the wings, not yet reaching the patients who desperately need them. But the obstacles are no longer limited to scientific discovery alone — the bottleneck lies in execution, scalability, and the ability to reliably manufacture complex products. In that context, it’s clear that the future of our industry cannot be built solely on fragmentation and rivalry. It needs a foundation in something stronger and more collaborative.
The Rise of a Cohesive Ecosystem
I believe the next chapter for CDMOs will be defined by a more cohesive ecosystem approach. Instead of operating as isolated vendors competing for individual projects, the industry will increasingly function as an interconnected network of partners, each contributing specialized expertise. Sponsors, manufacturers, technology providers, regulators, and service organizations will need to work together more seamlessly, with shared goals and aligned incentives.
This ecosystem model allows each participant to focus on what they do best. Biotech innovators can concentrate on advancing breakthrough science. CDMOs can deliver operational excellence, scale, and quality manufacturing. Technology partners can accelerate digital transformation. When these strengths are integrated effectively, the entire development pathway becomes more efficient, more resilient, and better positioned to serve patients.
This shift will require a new mindset. Success will depend less on protecting capabilities and more on enabling collaboration. It will depend on transparency, trust, and shared accountability. Ultimately, the organizations that thrive in this new environment will be those that can operate not only as providers, but as true partners in bringing therapies to market.
Advancing Technology While Staying Human
Technology will play a central role in shaping this future. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and digital manufacturing platforms are no longer distant possibilities. They are becoming practical tools that can amplify the workforce and increase productivity across development and manufacturing.
At Bora, we see AI not as a replacement for human expertise, but as an accelerator of it. By leveraging intelligent systems to improve forecasting, optimize process development, detect quality signals earlier, and reduce repetitive burdens, we can empower our teams to focus on higher-value work. The goal is to become more effective, more proactive, and better able to meet the demands of increasingly complex therapies.
As the industry evolves, the CDMOs that succeed will be those that embrace innovation thoughtfully, using technology to strengthen execution while maintaining the highest standards of quality and reliability. Amid all this transformation, one principle must remain constant: Patients are at the heart of everything we do.
In a highly technical and competitive industry, it’s easy to become focused on metrics, timelines, and market positioning, but the true purpose of our work is far larger. Every batch produced, every process optimized, and every delivery achieved ultimately supports a person waiting for treatment. That human reality should be the north star guiding our decisions and shaping the industry’s culture moving forward.
Bora’s Commitment to the Future
The future of CDMOs will belong to organizations that combine operational excellence with partnership, innovation with reliability, and technology with purpose. It will belong to those who understand that collaboration is not a weakness, but a necessity in the face of global healthcare challenges.
Bora Pharmaceuticals is committed to being part of that future. We believe the industry is moving toward a more connected ecosystem, powered by new technologies and driven by a shared responsibility to patients. The path ahead is inevitably challenging, but it’s also full of possibilities. Most importantly, it is a path that leads toward delivering more therapies, more efficiently, to the people who need them most.
To hear more on this topic, watch J.D.’s full interview on the Making it in Manufacturing podcast here
J.D. Mowery has served as the president of Bora’s CDMO business since 2024. He brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience in the CDMO and biopharmaceutical industries, with a strong track record of driving innovation, growth, and operational excellence.