Avi Nandi on How CDMOs Are Simplifying Cell & Gene Supply Chains

Avi Nandi, SK Pharmteco discusses the company's work as a CDMO and the challenges of managing media and buffer supply chains for cell and gene therapy manufacturers in Part 1 of a two-part interview with PharmTech at INTERPHEX 2026.

Nandi spoke at a product showcase focused on bringing media and buffer manufacturing technology on-site to simplify supply chain logistics for both manufacturers and service providers.

Nandi outlines 3 key supply chain concerns his team navigates: procurement lead times, lot-to-lot consistency, and material expiry. Most of SK Pharmteco's clients are in the early to late-stage clinical phase, "From the time of identification to the time of use tends to be short, just because the demand for clinical supply is the priority for these clients." This compressed timeline makes it difficult to give suppliers adequate lead time and leaves little room for materials to expire before use.

Consistency across batches is equally critical. "Ensuring that one lot looks the same, in a reproducible manner, is also critical, particularly as your product scales through clinical and then ultimately commercial launch,” Nandi says.

Nandi also addresses how CDMOs like SK Pharmteco are positioned to help de-risk supply chains. Because they serve a broad and diverse client base, CDMOs have stronger visibility into demand patterns than individual innovators and can manage inventory more strategically. However, he notes that the investment burden is shared. Earlier stage products, with their unique materials and speed-first priorities, present more risk, while commercially staged products open the door to more robust inventory and supplier redundancy strategies.