OSD
Technology transfer is one of the most complex and risk prone stages in drug development, and often a key differentiator in CDMO performance. At CDMO Live 2025, Dr. Uwe Hanenberg, Recipharm’s Head of Product Development, led a roundtable discussion on how to navigate common pitfalls and implement strategies that lead to smoother, more reliable outcomes.
Common Tech-Transfer Challenges
- Communication breakdowns between business development and technical teams
- Inconsistent documentation and knowledge management
- Lack of process robustness, especially in non-like-to-like transfers
- Delays post contract due to handoff disconnects and second round knowledge transfers
Strategies for Smoother Transfers
- Ensure team continuity from contract to execution to maintain critical knowledge
- Build strong documentation and knowledge systems from the outset
- Conduct comprehensive risk assessments across quality, business, and EHS dimensions
- Apply structured project governance using cross functional teams, stage gates, and clear escalation paths
- Involve QA early and link knowledge transfer to resource planning
- Acknowledging IP related limitations when sharing information
By building more robust systems, closing communication gaps, and proactively managing risk, CDMOs can transform tech-transfer from a hurdle into a strategic advantage, delivering better quality, faster timelines, and improved customer trust.
To dive deeper into this topic, read the full article here.