Q&A: Tom Sellig on Why Complex Formulations Are Driving CDMO Growth

At CPHI Americas 2026, PharmTech connected with Tom Sellig, CEO, Adare Pharma Solutions, to discuss manufacturing investment trends, 3D-printed tablets, FDA dynamics, and the workforce strategies shaping the company's growth.

Watch the video interview with Sellig:

Tom Sellig on CDMO Innovation and US Manufacturing Growth

PharmTech: What Technologies Are Most Central to Adare's Innovation Strategy?

Sellig: Patient-centric dosage forms are core to our model, and 3D printing of tablets is one of the most exciting areas driving our growth. The technology allows us to differentiate product formulations and produce a wide range of dosage forms and release profiles in ways that more conventional manufacturing approaches cannot easily match. We're also paying close attention to the ongoing conversation around solubility and bioavailability enhancement. While it's an important capability to have, we think many companies are still working within the boundaries of existing technologies. We're developing what we believe are novel solutions that could leapfrog some of what's currently available in the market.

How Are Shifts at the FDA Affecting Your Development Timelines?

The FDA is going through significant changes right now, and that's creating a genuinely different dynamic between CDMOs [contract development and manufacturing organizations] and pharma companies. The conversation is increasingly about how to accelerate timelines while still working within the regulatory framework. We're actively supporting products that have received priority review vouchers, and that creates real pressure to move faster. It's a challenge, but it's also an opportunity for us to demonstrate the value of a CDMO that has the technical depth to execute under that kind of pressure.

How Is Adare Approaching Talent Acquisition and Retention?

Talent is a critical priority for us. We have an internal acquisition team, but we're also building something we call the Adare Academy, a structured, skills-based development and training program for all employees. It covers both soft skills and hard skills, including science and technology, with an explicit focus on career development pathways. The goal is not just to attract people, but to retain them. Lower turnover translates directly into continuity for our teams, for our client relationships, and ultimately for service quality.

How Do You View the Wave of Reshoring Commitments from Large Pharma, and What Does It Mean for CDMOs?

The scale of investment being discussed is significant. That said, these are long-horizon projects. Whether all of them come to fruition, and on what timeline, remains to be seen. Our response is to focus on what we can act on today: building out selective capacity and capabilities that position us to support the industry's growth as those investments materialize. We don't need to wait for the full wave, we need to be ready when it arrives.