As pharmaceutical outsourcing has matured, contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) have evolved from capacity-driven service providers into strategic partners deeply embedded in their customers’ development and commercialization strategies. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in solid oral dose manufacturing and packaging, where increasing formulation complexity, compressed timelines, and heightened regulatory expectations demand both technical depth and operational agility.

In 2026, Ropack Pharma Solutions marks its 50th anniversary—a milestone that reflects not only longevity, but sustained relevance in a highly competitive CMO market. In this Contract Pharma Q&A, Yves Massicotte, President and CEO of Ropack, shares his perspective on how the role of CMOs has changed over the past five decades, how Ropack has expanded its manufacturing and packaging capabilities to meet modern demands, and what qualities pharma and nutraceutical companies should prioritize when selecting a long-term outsourcing partner.

Contract Pharma: Ropack is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026. From your perspective, what have been the most significant changes in solid oral dose manufacturing and packaging over the past five decades?

Yves Massicotte: Over the past five decades, one of the most significant changes in solid oral dose manufacturing and packaging has been the evolution of the CMO’s role within the pharmaceutical value chain. Historically, CMOs were largely viewed as suppliers, often engaged to address capacity constraints or execute products that were difficult to manufacture internally.

As manufacturing technologies, process controls, and quality systems have advanced, outsourcing has become increasingly strategic. Pharmaceutical companies now rely on CMOs not only for execution, but for technical expertise, reliability, and operational flexibility. This shift has elevated CMOs to trusted partners, frequently involved earlier in development and commercialization decisions. It reflects the industry’s need for robust, compliant operations and long-term collaboration to support increasingly demanding market and regulatory environments.

CP: How has Ropack evolved its capabilities in solid oral dose manufacturing to meet today’s demands for more complex formulations, higher quality expectations, and faster timelines?

Massicotte: Over the past 15 years, Ropack has expanded its solid oral dose manufacturing capabilities to meet growing customer demand for a more integrated and responsive service offering. This evolution has included the addition of manufacturing technologies such as dry powder blending, encapsulation, and, most recently, direct tablet compression. These capabilities build on Ropack’s established expertise in primary and secondary packaging and allow for more efficient integration of products within our value chain.

More recently, we finalized the integration of a new analytical and microbiology laboratory, strengthening our technology transfer and scale-up processes while enabling faster project timelines. Beyond infrastructure and technology, people remain central to this evolution. As a service-oriented organization, our ability to recruit, train, and retain experts in manufacturing is essential to sustaining quality, reliability, and operational flexibility, while fostering a strong culture of problem solving and continuous improvement.

CP: Packaging is often viewed as the final step in the process, but it can play a critical role in product quality and patient experience. How does Ropack approach packaging as an integrated part of the overall manufacturing strategy?

Massicotte: Packaging is typically the final step in the overall manufacturing process, and as a result, delays that occur earlier—whether during development, sourcing, or manufacturing—often accumulate upstream. By the time a product reaches the packaging stage, timelines are frequently condensed in order to meet overall project milestones.

Ropack approaches packaging with this reality in mind. By streamlining internal processes and maintaining strong, long-standing relationships with key packaging suppliers, we are able to respond effectively to compressed timelines while maintaining reliability, quality, and compliance. At the same time, we recognize the level of trust our clients place in CMOs to deliver products ultimately intended for patients. This integrated approach allows packaging to support project execution rather than become a bottleneck at the end of the process.

CP: What are some of the most common challenges you see pharma and nutraceutical companies facing today when outsourcing solid oral dose manufacturing and packaging, and how can a CMO help mitigate those risks?

Massicotte: When outsourcing solid oral dose manufacturing and packaging, one of the primary challenges for pharma and nutraceutical companies is establishing trust with a partner that can operate with a high level of transparency. Clear communication and alignment early in the relationship are essential to avoid misunderstandings as projects progress.

Cost and timelines also present challenges. While CMOs may be able to support aggressive schedules, companies sometimes underestimate the level of internal coordination and resources required on their end to successfully manage an outsourced project, which can impact execution.

A CMO can help mitigate these risks by operating as a reliable and flexible partner with strong quality systems. At Ropack, we adapt our level of involvement based on our partners’ available resources, ranging from a light-touch approach to a more turnkey model where our project managers support coordination and communication at the customer level. This flexibility, combined with disciplined project management, helps ensure consistent execution and on-time delivery.

CP: With increased regulatory scrutiny and growing expectations around data integrity and quality systems, what investments or process improvements has Ropack made to ensure consistent, compliant operations across manufacturing and packaging?

Massicotte: With increasing regulatory scrutiny and heightened expectations around data integrity, Ropack has made ongoing investments in both systems and culture to ensure consistent, compliant operations across manufacturing and packaging. A strong quality culture is central to this approach, with quality and compliance viewed as shared responsibilities across all operational teams rather than isolated functions.

Our Regulatory and Quality teams actively monitor evolving industry requirements and ensure that personnel are regularly engaged in training programs, seminars, and continuous learning initiatives. In parallel, we have invested in advanced quality controls, including vision systems with AI capabilities, to support real-time inspection directly on our production lines. Together, these efforts help ensure that quality is built into daily operations, supporting reliable execution, regulatory compliance and data integrity at every stage of the process.

CP: Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping the future of solid oral dose products—whether in formulation, delivery formats, or packaging—and how is Ropack preparing for what’s next?

Massicotte: Looking ahead, solid oral dose products will continue to evolve in response to both patient preferences and broader industry expectations. One notable trend is the ongoing effort to transition certain therapies traditionally delivered via injection into oral solid dose formats. Recent developments, such as oral versions of previously injectable molecules, highlight the industry’s focus on improving patient convenience, adherence, and accessibility.

Packaging is also evolving, particularly with the introduction of more environmentally responsible materials. Advances in sustainable blister materials are making it increasingly feasible to support commercial production while maintaining stability requirements for specific APIs.

Ropack is preparing for these trends by closely monitoring technological developments, investing in expertise and collaborating with key industry partners to not only support, but also drive these innovations while maintaining flexibility across manufacturing and packaging operations. This approach allows us to adapt our capabilities as new products and materials move from innovation into broader commercial use.

CP: Reaching a 50-year milestone speaks to long-term customer relationships and operational resilience. What do you believe has been key to Ropack’s longevity in a highly competitive CMO market?

Massicotte: Reaching a 50-year milestone reflects the strength of long-term customer relationships and the ability to adapt in a highly competitive market. At Ropack, clients have consistently described us using three attributes: Reliability, Flexibility, and Quality. These principles have guided our decisions and how we have operated over the past decades and will remain guiding principles looking forward to our next 50 years.  Ropack is also selective in who, and how, we integrate new clients and products.  This ensures we manage our growth responsibly both protecting our existing customer base and adding new clients and products to our portfolio.  

“Clients no longer view CMOs simply as suppliers—they rely on trusted partners
who can deliver quality, flexibility, and long-term reliability.”

Yves Massicotte

An entrepreneurial mindset has also been key to our longevity. We value close partnerships with our clients and take a collaborative approach to problem-solving, working alongside them to overcome challenges and achieve project milestones. Being small enough to remain agile, yet large enough to deliver meaningful impact, allows us to adapt quickly while maintaining operational rigor.

Ultimately, the one constant has always been our people.  They are our greatest strength. Their expertise, commitment, and willingness to collaborate every day is what enables Ropack to consistently deliver value and sustain long-term partnerships in an evolving industry.

CP: For companies evaluating CMO partners for solid oral dose programs today, what factors should they prioritize to ensure both near-term success and long-term scalability?

Massicotte: When evaluating a CMO partner for solid oral dose programs, companies should look beyond immediate capacity and cost considerations. Reliability and quality systems are foundational, but long-term success also depends on transparency, operational flexibility, and the ability to scale alongside evolving program needs.

Equally important is the partner’s mindset. CMOs that engage collaboratively, communicate clearly, and demonstrate a strong understanding of the client’s objectives are better positioned to support both near-term execution and future growth. Investing time upfront to ensure cultural alignment and mutual expectations can significantly reduce risk and create a more resilient, long-term partnership.

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