Precision as a growth lever for CDMO leaders: Key findings from Simon-Kucher’s 2025 CDMO growth report

In 2024, CDMO and pharma companies delivered a mixed performance. Many met or even surpassed their growth targets, but performance varied significantly across modalities, segments, and geographies. North American CDMOs outperformed their European peers. Meanwhile, established pharma led the way over emerging biopharma companies: 86% met or surpassed their goals, compared to 74% of these newer players.

This year has been more optimistic, especially for CDMOs. According to Simon-Kucher’s latest CDMO Growth Report (1) – developed in collaboration with PharmaSource and based on insights from over 100 executives from CDMO and pharma companies globally – confidence is growing. Over 80% of early-phase CDMOs expect stronger performance and momentum is building across small molecule and end-to-end providers. Pharma companies share this optimism to some degree, yet they are more cautious.