Why Manufacturing Readiness Is Becoming Pharma's Top Deal Priority
Although life sciences deal activity declined in early 2026, companies continue to pursue high-value assets with greater discipline. According to Kristin Ciriello Pothier, organizations no longer focus on increasing the number of transactions. Instead, they carefully assess whether each asset can become a long-term strategic addition to their portfolio. As a result, manufacturing readiness has emerged as a key factor alongside scientific and commercial value during acquisition planning.
GMP Due Diligence Now Decides Which Pharma Deals Move Forward
Manufacturing capability now plays a much larger role in pharmaceutical due diligence than in previous years. This trend is particularly evident in cell and gene therapy, where production cannot simply move between regions without significant operational planning. Consequently, potential buyers increasingly evaluate manufacturing facilities, regional production capacity, and operational readiness before determining an asset’s overall value. If manufacturing sites remain outside the transaction, companies often reassess both project feasibility and deal pricing.
Oncology Innovation Is Raising the Bar for Manufacturing Readiness
While oncology remains one of the most active therapeutic areas for acquisitions, the complexity of modern platform technologies has also increased manufacturing expectations. Pothier noted that large pharmaceutical companies dedicated extensive resources during ASCO 2026 to evaluate scientific assets as well as manufacturing capabilities. Meanwhile, growing interest in GLP-1 therapies continues to expand beyond diabetes into cardiovascular care, oncology support, and broader patient management, creating additional demand for scalable manufacturing strategies.
Regional Manufacturing Strategy Is Reshaping Global Pharma Investment
Geopolitical uncertainty and trade policies continue to affect manufacturing decisions. However, companies are not responding with immediate reshoring initiatives. Instead, many organizations perform detailed economic and operational analyses before investing in new regional manufacturing facilities. They also compare infrastructure costs, tariff exposure, and long-term production flexibility to determine the most sustainable manufacturing strategy for each market.
Manufacturing Readiness Could Become Pharma's Next Competitive Advantage
Looking ahead, Pothier expects pharmaceutical partnerships and acquisitions to accelerate around three major drivers: artificial intelligence collaborations, manufacturing infrastructure, and innovative therapeutic platforms. Among these, manufacturing readiness may become one of the strongest competitive differentiators. As advanced therapies become more complex, organizations that combine robust GMP manufacturing capabilities with disciplined due diligence are likely to gain a strategic advantage in future pharmaceutical transactions.
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Source: Pharmtech.Com