Why the Right Manufacturing Partner Is About More Than Capacity

During Cell & Gene Live, “Distributed Manufacturing for CGT: Rent, Lease, or Buy in an Era of Overcapacity?,” experts Emily Moran, Founder, 3LB Consulting, LLC and Sugu Patro, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Global Process Development at Kite, a Gilead Company explored what truly defines a successful manufacturing partnership in cell and gene therapy by emphasizing that technical fit, regulatory strength, process understanding, and long-term strategic alignment matter far more than price or available capacity alone. The conversation also highlighted key warning signs companies should watch for when evaluating CDMOs, from weak CMC capabilities to overpromising on technical execution without proven evidence or scalable infrastructure.