CDMO Leadership Awards
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
THE POOL, New York City
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Registration open
(Note: Priority registration is given to senior leadership from CDMOs and sponsor companies. See the event registration page for details.)
CDMO Leadership Awards 2026
Independent recognition based on verified sponsor feedback
The CDMO Leadership Awards recognize contract development and manufacturing organizations based on direct feedback from biopharma sponsors who have worked with them within the past 18–24 months. Awards reflect real-world outsourcing performance and are grounded in verified sponsor feedback, not submissions or self-nominations.
Strengthening rigor and transparency
For 2026, the CDMO Leadership Awards introduce a new research partnership with the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development. Tufts CSDD provides independent oversight of survey design, respondent validation, and analysis, reinforcing the rigor and objectivity behind the awards.
Survey responses are collected from qualified biopharma professionals with recent outsourcing experience. CDMOs cannot self-nominate, submit materials, or otherwise influence scoring.
Learn more about the 2026 program updates and research partnership in the official press release.
Press Release
2026 Awards timeline
January–early February 2026
Survey fielding and data collection
Late February 2026
Shortlists announced
March 2026
CDMO Leadership Awards USA recognition during DCAT Week in New York City
Fall 2026
CDMO Leadership Awards Europe recognition
This timeline reflects the planned cadence for the 2026 awards cycle. Additional event details will be shared closer to each recognition moment.
How the awards are determined
The CDMO Leadership Awards are based on a proprietary scoring model that blends quantitative performance metrics with qualitative sponsor feedback. Recognition is determined by verified responses and minimum qualification thresholds within each modality and cohort.
More detail on eligibility, scoring, and award categories is available in the FAQ section.
Congratulations to the 2026 Finalists
The 2026 CDMO Leadership Awards finalists were selected based on direct feedback from biopharma decision makers and independently analyzed by our research partner, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development.
Finalists are listed alphabetically within each category. Winners will be announced live on March 25 in New York.
CDMOs are grouped into two revenue-based categories, Large and Small/Mid-Sized, so companies are evaluated among similar peers. For the purposes of the awards, $1B in CDMO revenue is used as the threshold between the two groups.
CDMO of the Year
Biologic CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- AbbVie
- Samsung Biologics
- WuXi Biologics
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Eurofins
- KBI Biopharma
- Pharmaron
Cell & Gene Therapy CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- Lonza
- MilliporeSigma
- Recipharm
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Aldevron
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Small Molecule API CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- Almac
- Lonza
- WuXi STA
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Asymchem
- Esteve
- Pharmaron
Small Molecule Finished Dose CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- Lonza
- Vetter Pharma
- WuXi STA
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Bend Bioscience
- Corden Pharma
- Pharmaron
Fill-Finish CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- AbbVie
- Vetter Pharma
- WuXi Biologics
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Eurofins
- KBI Biopharma
- Syngene International
Best in Class Finalists
The companies below represent the top finalists in each Best in Class attribute by modality and company size.
Large Biologic
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
WuXi Biologics
AbbVie
Samsung Biologics
WuXi Biologics
AbbVie
Samsung Biologics
WuXi Biologics
AbbVie
Samsung Biologics
WuXi Biologics
AbbVie
MilliporeSigma
WuXi Biologics
AbbVie
Samsung Biologics
WuXi Biologics
Large Cell & Gene Therapy
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
MilliporeSigma
Recipharm
MilliporeSigma
Recipharm
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
Recipharm
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
Recipharm
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
Recipharm
MilliporeSigma
Recipharm
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Large Small Molecule API
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
WuXi STA
Curia
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
Almac
Curia
Lonza
Almac
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
Almac
Lonza
MilliporeSigma
Almac
Curia
WuXi STA
Large Small Molecule Finished Dose
Lonza
Vetter Pharma
WuXi STA
Catalent
Lonza
Vetter Pharma
Catalent
Lonza
Vetter Pharma
Catalent
Lonza
Vetter Pharma
Lonza
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Vetter Pharma
Catalent
Thermo Fisher Scientific
WuXi STA
Small/Mid-Sized Biologic
KBI Biopharma
Pharmaron
Simtra BioPharma Solutions
IDT Biologika
KBI Biopharma
Simtra BioPharma Solutions
Abzena
KBI Biopharma
Simtra BioPharma Solutions
AGC Biologics
Eurofins
KBI Biopharma
Abzena
KBI Biopharma
Simtra BioPharma Solutions
AGC Biologics
PCI Pharma Services
Simtra BioPharma Solutions
Small/Mid-Sized Cell & Gene Therapy
AGC Biologics
Aldevron
IDT Biologika
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Aldevron
IDT Biologika
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Aldevron
IDT Biologika
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Aldevron
IDT Biologika
Aldevron
Cellipont
IDT Biologika
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Aldevron
IDT Biologika
Small/Mid-Sized Small Molecule API
AGC Pharma Chemicals
Alcami
Pharmaron
AGC Pharma Chemicals
Asymchem
Veranova
AGC Pharma Chemicals
Veranova
AGC Pharma Chemicals
Esteve
Veranova
AGC Pharma Chemicals
Asymchem
Esteve
AGC Pharma Chemicals
Asymchem
Veranova
Small/Mid-Sized Small Molecule Finished Dose
Alcami
Asymchem
Bend Bioscience
Asymchem
Corden Pharma
Grifols International S.A.
Asymchem
Corden Pharma
Grifols International S.A.
Asymchem
Corden Pharma
Grifols International S.A.
Asymchem
Corden Pharma
Pharmaron
Asymchem
Corden Pharma
Grifols International S.A.
2026 CDMO Leadership Award Sponsors
