This Week's Highlights
Dual-source manufacturing inquiries up 40%
BioRich has seen a 40% increase in requests from US clients seeking alternative CDMOs as backup to existing China-based manufacturing relationships.
WuXi Biologics capacity expansion
WuXi Biologics announced a new 30,000L bioreactor facility in Ireland, expanding its non-China capacity for US and European clients.
Cell therapy CDMOs in high demand
Demand for cell therapy CDMO capacity far outpaces supply — BioRich is tracking 8 active searches for cell therapy manufacturing partners.
Featured Deal
A US-based clinical-stage biotech entered a multi-year CDMO agreement with a Suzhou-based biologics manufacturer for clinical and commercial supply of its lead biologic candidate. The agreement includes tech transfer, cell line development, and up to 2,000L GMP bioreactor capacity. The deal was reached through BioRich's CRO/CDMO matching service following a 6-week assessment and shortlisting process.
Multi-year supply agreement + tech transfer
Modality: Biologics | Scope: Cell line dev through commercial supply | Capacity: 2,000L GMP bioreactors | Location: Suzhou, China
Market Moves
JV with Chinese CDMO for Gene Therapy Manufacturing
Lonza announced a joint venture with a Guangzhou-based CDMO to offer AAV gene therapy manufacturing capacity to Asia-Pacific clients.
US Expansion with New Maryland Facility
Asymchem opened a new US-based process chemistry facility in Maryland to serve clients requiring domestic small molecule manufacturing.
AI-Driven Protein Engineering Platform Launched
GenScript unveiled an AI-assisted protein engineering platform targeting antibody optimization, positioning as a CRO alternative to in-house discovery teams.
Regulatory & Policy Watch
BIOSECURE Act Implementation Update
The US Department of Commerce issued updated guidelines clarifying which CDMO relationships fall under BIOSECURE Act review requirements, providing much-needed clarity for biotech procurement teams.
FDA Accepts IND for First China-Originated Gene Therapy
The FDA accepted the first IND submission from a Chinese company for an in vivo gene therapy targeting a rare neuromuscular disease — a landmark in the regulatory relationship.
BioRich Perspective
The CDMO question is the most operationally complex aspect of US-China biopharma relationships in 2026. The cost and quality advantages of leading Chinese CDMOs remain real and significant — but geopolitical risk management is now a board-level conversation at most US biotechs. The optimal strategy is not avoidance but diversification: maintain primary relationships with best-in-class Chinese CDMOs while establishing backup capacity with US, European, or South Korean partners. BioRich can assist with both sides of this equation — we have deep relationships across the China CDMO landscape and active connections to qualified non-China alternatives.
BioLink Weekly 由 BioRich International（美国新泽西州普林斯顿）出版。
lisa.fan@biorichinc.com