Over time, drug development has become more complex due to increased scientific understanding, more complex therapies and the rise of new technologies. Regulatory pathways and tech transfer have also been made more challenging with changes to the geopolitical landscape.

For CDMOs and biotechs working to these new market conditions, the increase in complexity creates additional challenges and opportunities. Now, a CDMO acts as a strategic extension of a biotech as opposed to a transactional contractor. One outcome from this is that choosing the right CDMO becomes more difficult.

Whilst there are a multitude of choices involved in selecting a CDMO partner, does the physical location of a CDMO become part of the selection criteria? And are there any benefits that come with a one-site CDMO?

What Is a One-Site CDMO?

Put simply, a one-site CDMO is a CDMO where GMP, R&D and manufacturing all operate on one site. Logistically, this makes moving projects from team to team more streamlined, because the teams are familiar with working together and operate in one space.

In contrast, many CDMOs struggle to find space large enough to house their entire operation and, upon expansion, need to acquire space further away from their original operation. These sites are referred to as Global or multi-site CDMOs.

Whilst all sites are capable of providing a comprehensive CDMO service, there are several benefits for small to medium sized attached to working with a one-site CDMO.

Key Considerations For a One-Site CDMO

Choosing a one-site CDMO model can make a significant difference in how smoothly and efficiently a project progresses. With all teams under one roof, communication becomes faster and more direct. Decisions are made quickly, and delays caused by cross-site coordination are virtually eliminated.

Tech transfer is another area where the one-site approach shines. There’s no need to ship materials or documents between locations, and R&D and manufacturing teams can collaborate in real time to troubleshoot and optimize processes. This close-knit setup helps compress timelines, making it easier to move from development to GMP batch manufacture and ultimately reach the clinic or market faster.

Quality oversight also benefits from this integrated model, leading to seamless scalability. Unified systems and documentation ensure consistency, simplify compliance, and make audit preparation more straightforward. For sponsors, the ability to visit a single site for updates, batch manufacture, and meetings builds trust and transparency, which strengthens the partnership and keeps everyone aligned.

Another key consideration is that one-site CDMOs are typically more tailored to small to medium sized biotechs due to the size of the facility. Large clients may find themselves limited by the physical size of the facility and may need to enlist a multi-site CDMO to accommodate the size of the project.

Key Consideration for a Multi-Site/Global CDMO

Multi-site or global CDMOs operate with facilities spread across multiple locations, sometimes within the same region, and sometimes across different countries. This structure can offer advantages for large-scale projects, as these sites typically have greater physical capacity to handle scale-up from clinical to commercial volumes. However, this benefit comes with trade-offs. Tech transfer between sites can be more costly and time-consuming because materials, documentation, and sometimes equipment need to be shipped, adding logistical complexity and potential delays.

Another consideration is client prioritization. Large, global CDMOs often focus on high-volume projects, which means smaller, or mid-sized biotech companies may find themselves competing for resources and timelines. This can lead to longer lead times or less flexibility for emerging biotechs, but could be a potential benefit for larger companies.

Project management is also a key differentiator. Multi-site CDMOs tend to have more complex project team structures, requiring clients to navigate multiple contact points across different locations. While this can provide specialised expertise, it often introduces additional layers of communication and coordination, which can slow decision-making and complicate issue resolution.

See below our table guide to the advantages and disadvantages of One-site vs Multi-site/Global CDMOs