Selecting the Right CDMO Partner for Early-Phase Small-Molecule Drug Product Development

Selecting the right CDMO partner is one of the most consequential decisions an early-stage program will make, and one of the least structured. For small-molecule drug product development, the question is rarely whether a CDMO has capacity. It is whether they have the right formulation capability, analytical infrastructure, GMP manufacturing experience, and QP release process for where your program is right now.

Join Jakob Kristensen, Pharmaceutical Development Lead at Scantox for Selecting the Right CDMO Partner for Early-Phase Small-Molecule Drug Product Development on June 3, 2026 | 15:00 CEST / 9:00 AM EDT, followed by a Q&A session.

This session provides a framework for evaluating early-phase CDMO partners before you issue an RFP. Jakob will cover how to define your program requirements, assess formulation and analytical/QC fit, evaluate GMP manufacturing and IMP release capability, and identify the transfer-readiness signals that matter at the next handoff. The session closes with a CDMO-selection scorecard for use in your own partner evaluations.

Key Learning Objectives

• Define what fit-for-phase CDMO selection means for early small-molecule drug product programs.
• Identify the formulation, analytical/QC, GMP, packaging, QP, and stability capabilities that matter most before Phase III/commercial scale.
• Ask better due-diligence questions when evaluating CDMO partners for Phase I/II development.
• Recognise common handoff risks between formulation development, analytical methods, GMP clinical manufacture, and future technology transfer.
• Use a practical CDMO-selection scorecard to compare potential partners.

Who Should Attend

• CMC leaders, pharmaceutical development heads, and formulation scientists at small and mid-sized biotech and pharma companies.
• Early-stage biotech CEOs and COOs closely involved in development outsourcing decisions.
• Analytical/QC leaders, clinical supply managers, and technical operations leads with outsourcing responsibility.
• Program managers and procurement stakeholders involved in CDMO qualification.