by For pharmaceutical companies developing tablets, capsules, powders, and other oral solid dosage (OSD) products, finding the right contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) can make a major difference. The ideal partner needs to do more than manufacture a finished product. It should be able to support the journey from formulation development and process optimization to scale-up, commercial manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and regulatory support.
According to research from Towards Healthcare, the global oral solid dosage contract manufacturing market was valued at USD 41.08 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 75.26 billion by 2035, expanding at a 6.24% CAGR from 2026 to 2035.
So, which companies can provide reliable end-to-end support for oral solid drug products destined for global markets?
What Does End-to-End OSD Development Really Mean?
End-to-end OSD manufacturing means having one integrated partner that can support multiple stages of the drug product lifecycle.
These services can include:
- Formulation development
- Pre-formulation studies
- Process development
- Analytical testing
- Clinical manufacturing
- Scale-up and technology transfer
- Commercial manufacturing
- Tablets and capsule production
- Packaging and labeling
- Serialization
- Regulatory documentation
- Supply-chain support
Towards Healthcare specifically identifies formulation development, scale-up, commercial manufacturing, packaging, and regulatory support as important services offered by OSD CDMOs.
This integrated approach can help pharmaceutical companies reduce technology-transfer challenges and accelerate the transition from development to commercial production.
Leading Companies for End-to-End Oral Solid Dosage Services
Catalent
Catalent is one of the prominent companies in the OSD contract manufacturing landscape. Towards Healthcare describes Catalent as offering a complete range of OSD contract manufacturing services, extending from early-stage development through large-scale commercial production.
Its capabilities make it particularly relevant for companies looking for an integrated partner rather than separate providers for development, manufacturing, and commercialization.
Thermo Fisher Scientific / Patheon
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Patheon business is another major player in the oral solid dosage CDMO space. Towards Healthcare identifies Thermo Fisher among the key providers of end-to-end oral solid dosage capabilities.
Its offering is relevant to companies looking to connect development activities with clinical and commercial manufacturing.
Lonza
Lonza provides commercial production capabilities for immediate-release and modified-release tablets and encapsulated formulations. Towards Healthcare also identifies Lonza as a leading OSD contract manufacturing company.
Its global infrastructure can be particularly valuable for pharmaceutical companies requiring specialized technologies and commercial-scale production.
Recipharm
Recipharm is another important global CDMO offering end-to-end OSD services. Towards Healthcare identifies the company as providing capabilities extending across development and manufacturing, including clinical-to-commercial services.
Its global facility network also supports pharmaceutical companies seeking manufacturing capabilities across multiple markets.
Piramal Pharma Solutions
Piramal Pharma Solutions provides a broad range of oral solid dosage capabilities, including tablets, capsules, specialty formulations, and pediatric formulations.
The company is also identified by Towards Healthcare as a key player in the U.S. oral solid dosage CDMO landscape.
Aenova Group
Aenova Group is another major OSD manufacturer identified by Towards Healthcare. The company specializes in several oral dosage formats and has a strong position in European pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Its capabilities include specialized solid dosage formats and commercial manufacturing services.
Corden Pharma
Corden Pharma International provides clinical-to-commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities and has expanded its global facility network, making it another relevant option for pharmaceutical companies seeking international OSD manufacturing support.
AbbVie Contract Manufacturing
AbbVie Contract Manufacturing is identified by Towards Healthcare as providing services ranging from early formulation development through large-scale commercial production and specialized packaging.
This makes its service model relevant to companies looking for development-to-commercialization continuity.
Why Scale-Up Is One of the Most Important Stages
A formulation that performs well in the laboratory does not automatically translate into a successful commercial manufacturing process.
During scale-up, manufacturers need to ensure that the formulation continues to meet expected quality and performance requirements when production volumes increase.
Process development and scale-up represented 12% of the U.S. oral solid dosage CDMO market in 2025, according to Towards Healthcare.
The objective is to establish a reproducible process that can move efficiently from development batches to commercial-scale production.
This is particularly important for complex formulations involving:
- Modified-release technologies
- High-potency compounds
- Poorly soluble APIs
- Specialized coatings
- Controlled-release formulations
- Advanced drug-delivery systems
Commercial Manufacturing Is a Major Requirement
For a pharmaceutical company preparing for a global launch, having sufficient commercial manufacturing capacity is critical.
Towards Healthcare reports that commercial manufacturing accounted for 37% of the U.S. oral solid dosage CDMO market in 2025, making it the largest service segment.
Large-scale manufacturing allows companies to transition from clinical development to commercial supply without having to build their own production infrastructure.
This can be particularly valuable for emerging pharmaceutical companies and virtual pharma businesses that want to access specialized manufacturing capabilities without making substantial capital investments.
Packaging and Labeling Are Becoming More Important
Packaging is no longer simply the final step before a product leaves the manufacturing facility.
For global pharmaceutical products, packaging must support:
- Product protection
- Patient convenience
- Regulatory requirements
- Serialization
- Traceability
- Supply-chain security
- Market-specific labeling
Automated bottling and blister packaging lines, combined with serialization systems, are therefore becoming increasingly important for global pharmaceutical supply.
Why Pharmaceutical Companies Are Outsourcing OSD Manufacturing
There are several reasons why pharmaceutical companies are turning to CDMOs.
Lower Infrastructure Investment
Building an in-house OSD manufacturing facility requires significant investment in equipment, facilities, quality systems, personnel, and regulatory infrastructure.
Outsourcing gives companies access to existing capabilities.
Faster Development
An integrated CDMO can potentially reduce delays associated with transferring a formulation between multiple organizations.
Access to Specialized Expertise
CDMOs provide access to formulation scientists, manufacturing specialists, analytical teams, quality professionals, and regulatory experts.
Flexible Production Capacity
Companies can scale manufacturing according to demand without necessarily investing in additional production infrastructure.
Global Manufacturing Support
For companies targeting multiple markets, working with a CDMO that has international capabilities can simplify commercial expansion and supply planning.
Towards Healthcare notes that outsourcing is particularly attractive to small and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies because it can reduce overhead and capital investment while providing access to specialized technologies.
Which Partner Is Best for a Global OSD Program?
There is no single CDMO that is ideal for every oral solid drug product.
The best partner depends on the molecule, dosage form, development stage, production volume, target markets, and packaging requirements.
However, companies should evaluate potential partners based on several factors:
Development capabilities: Can the provider take a formulation from early development through process optimization?
Scale-up expertise: Can the same organization transition the product efficiently into commercial manufacturing?
Manufacturing capacity: Does it have sufficient equipment and production capacity for anticipated demand?
Packaging capabilities: Can it provide commercial packaging, labeling, and serialization?
Regulatory experience: Does it understand the requirements of the markets where the product will be launched?
Global footprint: Can its manufacturing network support international supply?
Technology: Does it have advanced capabilities for complex OSD formulations?
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