Congratulations to the 2026 Finalists and Winners
The 2026 CDMO Leadership Awards finalists and winners 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.
Winners are featured at the top of each category, followed by the additional finalists.
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
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- KBI Biopharma
- Pharmaron
Cell & Gene Therapy CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- Lonza
- Recipharm
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Small Molecule API CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- Almac
- WuXi STA
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Esteve CDMO
- Pharmaron
Small Molecule Finished Dose CDMO of the Year
Sponsored by MasterControl
Large CDMOs
- Lonza
- WuXi STA
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Corden Pharma
- Pharmaron
Fill-Finish CDMO of the Year
Large CDMOs
- Vetter Pharma
- WuXi Biologics
Small/Mid-Sized CDMOs
- Eurofins
- Syngene International
Best in Class
The companies below represent the top performers in each Best in Class attribute by modality and company size.
Large Biologic
- MilliporeSigma
- Lonza
- AbbVie
- Samsung Biologics
- Samsung Biologics
- AbbVie
- AbbVie
- WuXi Biologics
- WuXi Biologics
- AbbVie
- AbbVie
- Samsung Biologics
Large Cell & Gene Therapy
- Recipharm
- FUJIFILM Biotechnologies
- Recipharm
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Recipharm
- Lonza
- Lonza
- Recipharm
- Recipharm
- Lonza
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- MilliporeSigma
Large Small Molecule API
- MilliporeSigma
- WuXi STA
- MilliporeSigma
- Curia
- Curia
- Almac
- Almac
- MilliporeSigma
- Lonza
- Almac
- WuXi STA
- Almac
Large Small Molecule Finished Dose
- WuXi STA
- Lonza
- Lonza
- Catalent
- Lonza
- Catalent
- Vetter Pharma
- Catalent
- Lonza
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Catalent
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
Small/Mid-Sized Biologic
- Pharmaron
- KBI Biopharma
- KBI Biopharma
- IDT Biologika
- Abzena
- KBI Biopharma
- AGC Biologics
- Eurofins
- KBI Biopharma
- Abzena
- AGC Biologics
- PCI Pharma Services
Small/Mid-Sized Cell & Gene Therapy
- AGC Biologics
- IDT Biologika
- IDT Biologika
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
- IDT Biologika
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
- IDT Biologika
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
- IDT Biologika
- Cellipont
- IDT Biologika
- Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services
Small/Mid-Sized Small Molecule API
- AGC Pharma Chemicals
- Pharmaron
- Veranova
- Asymchem
- AGC Pharma Chemicals
- AGC Pharma Chemicals
- Veranova
- Esteve
- Esteve
- Asymchem
- Asymchem
- Veranova
Small/Mid-Sized Small Molecule Finished Dose
- Bend Bioscience
- Alcami
- Asymchem
- Corden Pharma
- Corden Pharma
- Asymchem
- Corden Pharma
- Asymchem
- Asymchem
- Pharmaron
- Asymchem
- Corden Pharma
Jury Awards
Most Innovative CDMO
Sponsored by CAI
Recognizes a CDMO that has demonstrated meaningful innovation with real-world impact, whether through advanced development approaches, novel delivery technologies, application of AI, or manufacturing excellence that improves outcomes for partners.
Small Molecule
- Carbogen Amcis
- Upperton Pharma Solutions
- Veranova
Biologics
- AGC Biologics
- Just-Evotec Biologics
- Rentschler Biopharma
Cell & Gene Therapy
- NorthX Biologics
- ProBioGen
- Viralgen
Best New or Relaunched CDMO
Honors a CDMO that has successfully entered the market or reintroduced itself through a significant relaunch, showing clear strategic focus, differentiation, and early momentum with biopharma partners.
- Ardena
- Axplora
- Biovectra
- Minaris Advanced Therapies
- Rezon Bio
- Simtra BioPharma Solutions
Best CDMO Management Team
Recognizes an executive leadership team that has demonstrated strong vision, execution, and culture, driving sustained growth, operational excellence, and trusted client partnerships.
- 3PBiovian
- Dottikon
- Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing
- IDT Biologika
Best Private Equity Team Supporting the CDMO Industry
Honors a private equity team that has played a meaningful role in strengthening the CDMO sector through thoughtful investment, long-term strategy, and support of operational and organizational excellence.
- 1315 Capital
- EQT
- Permira
- Thomas H. Lee Partners
- Warburg Pincus
Sustainability Leadership Award
Sponsored by Federal Equipment Company
Recognizes a CDMO that has demonstrated measurable progress in advancing sustainable manufacturing practices, reducing environmental impact while strengthening operational efficiency and long-term industry resilience.
- Boehringer Ingelheim BioXcellence
- Lonza
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Vetter Pharma
Lifetime Achievement Award
Derrick Hennicke
Derrick Hennicke is the recipient of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognized for a career that has helped shape the modern CDMO industry through entrepreneurial leadership, operational discipline, and a clear commitment to advancing outsourcing as a strategic model. Over more than three decades, he has built and led organizations, guided growth across evolving modalities, and supported the development of capabilities that better serve the needs of drug developers. Beyond the companies he has helped establish and scale, his influence extends across the broader ecosystem through mentorship, advisory roles, and a consistent focus on strengthening partnerships between sponsors and service providers. His contributions have had a lasting impact on how the industry operates today and how it continues to evolve.
2026 CDMO Leadership Award Sponsors
