Poll: Brands Willing to Switch CMOs to Meet Deadlines

CMOs can’t expect “brand loyalty” from their brand customers if they haven’t already started on the road to serialization. That’s the finding based on poll results from our recent Pharmas and CMOs Sharing Serialization Expectations webinar.

Over 100 attendees, representing more than 80 pharmaceutical companies, gathered to understand how global brand Teva and CMOs 3M, Patheon, Reed-Lane, and Sharp are working with partners to meet fast-approaching serialization deadlines.

According to the polls, brands already lack confidence in their CMOs, and CMOs not on track to meet global regulatory deadlines are at risk of losing business to competitors.

Here are the top three poll findings:

Only 1 in 10 believe their CMOs will be ready for serialization.

Just 12% of respondents are confident that all of their CMOs will be ready in time to meet serialization deadlines. In addition, 42% indicated that it is too early to tell.

2 out of 3 brands have contingencies—including changing partners—for CMOs that aren’t on track.

Attendees overwhelmingly indicated that they are prepared to move manufacturing capacity if their CMO demonstrates an inability to support their serialization plan. In fact, 37% said they’re prepared to move capacity to another CMO if necessary. Of that 37%, half already expect that they’ll have to do so.

For CMOs to meet brand requirements and ensure compliance readiness, both parties need to start having conversations right away. CMO presenters in the webinar reiterated the importance of holding regular meetings with partners, ensuring vendor expertise, and testing and piloting serialized product as soon as you can.

9 out of 10 say line and software upgrades must be ready at least 12 months in advance.

We’re currently just 18 months away from the DSCSA serialization deadline for manufacturers. From both the equipment and software side, lead times are going to get longer. If you’ve already waited this long to order line upgrades, get software updated, and onboard with a serialization vendor, then you are going to run into resource challenges.

Nearly half of our poll respondents (45%) indicated that this work actually requires 18 months or more. One of our CMO presenters agreed: “I’m glad we started when we did because it’s going to be very difficult to get ready in 18 months.”

If you are still getting oriented with your global serialization approach, watch our on-demand webinar to hear five leading supply chain companies share:

• CMO strategies and best practices for readiness. 
• Brand requirements for CMO partners. 
• Integrating with line systems and EPCIS vendors. 
• Project and readiness timelines.