Consolidation is nothing new to the industry, but as CROs and CMOs move toward functioning as a strategic partner, is consolidation best for the relationship? Sure, it enables a more end-to-end service offering from a single provider, but the advantages of the “one-stop-shop” sometimes come with a host of disadvantages too. Nice Insight data has shown how M&A activity can impact buyers’ perception of CRO/CMO performance post-merger, so it will be interesting to see whether these businesses are able to fully integrate the company while maintaining the strengths of its acquisitions.
A continued increase in expenditure over the prior two years was another exciting factor in 2014 outsourcing. This rise in spending coincided with a decrease in the prioritization of affordability when selecting an outsourcing partner. Biopharma companies boosting their budgets and the number of services they entrust to CROs and CMOs follows a new pattern in outsourcing — engaging contract businesses for access to scientific expertise that is not possessed in-house. Shifting priorities in partner selection and rethinking the big picture regarding the long-term strategy for time and cost savings show that the dynamic of these relationships is still evolving toward a true partnership.
Nice Insight research data shows that interest levels in strategic partnerships vary by the type of business. Not surprisingly, emerging biotechs showed the greatest interest in forming partnerships with three-quarters of emerging biotech respondents expressing interest. Biotechs also showed strong interest, with more than half (53 percent) stating their company is interested in forming long-term, win-win relationships with CROs/CMOs. Biotechs are likely interested in forming partnerships for different reasons than Pharma companies, as these businesses have limited in-house staff, a more focused pipeline and are often cost-driven. Biotechs may also lack internal expertise and seek specific skillsets through contract partners.
Pharma companies showed more indifference to forming new strategic partnerships, with a near-even split between the percentage who are interested and those who are neither interested nor not interested. This tepid interest could be influenced by the high number of existing partnerships among pharma companies, considering these respondents noted they are currently allocating a larger portion of work to strategic partners than biotechs. It may also be influenced by the corporate culture at long-established pharma companies where there is a significant amount of expertise available in-house, a standard set of internal procedures and a more rigid structure for a contract business to fit into.
The results from Nice Insight’s 2015 Outsourcing survey are currently being tabulated and analyzed to identify any behavioral changes to the way buyers engage contract suppliers, as well as how these companies are perceived by the industry they serve. The 2015 data will include industry feedback on nearly two hundred companies and forty-four services.
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