The U.S. contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO) industry has become one of the most important pillars of the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector. CRDMOs support pharmaceutical and biotech companies with drug discovery, clinical research, biologics manufacturing, commercial-scale production, packaging, and supply chain operations.
The industry has expanded rapidly because pharmaceutical companies are increasingly outsourcing manufacturing and research to reduce operational costs and speed up drug development. The rise of biologics, biosimilars, personalized medicine, and cell and gene therapies has further accelerated demand for advanced CRDMO services.
Industry estimates show that the global CDMO market is projected to surpass USD 300 billion within the next decade, while the United States remains one of the largest centers for biologics and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Why the U.S. CRDMO Market Is Expanding
Several major trends are fueling growth in the U.S. CRDMO industry:
- Increasing pharmaceutical outsourcing
- Growing demand for biologic drugs
- Expansion of mRNA vaccine manufacturing
- Rising cell and gene therapy development
- Higher R&D costs for pharmaceutical companies
- Faster clinical trial timelines
- Increased FDA focus on high-quality manufacturing
Large pharmaceutical companies are now relying heavily on external manufacturing partners instead of building expensive in-house facilities. This trend is especially strong among biotech startups and mid-sized pharmaceutical firms.
Statistical Snapshot of Major U.S. CRDMO Companies
| Company | Approximate Revenue | Key Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| Catalent | USD 4.3–4.6 billion | Biologics & gene therapy |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon) | USD 4.2+ billion CDMO business | End-to-end pharma services |
| Charles River Laboratories | USD 4 billion | Drug discovery & preclinical |
| Pfizer CentreOne | USD 1.2–1.5 billion | APIs & sterile injectables |
| Curia | USD 476–760 million | APIs & biologics |
| FUJIFILM Diosynth | USD 1.6+ billion | Biologics manufacturing |
Top CRDMO Companies in the United States
Catalent
Catalent is one of the largest CRDMO companies in the world and a major player in biologics, drug delivery systems, and gene therapy manufacturing.
The company generated approximately USD 4.3 billion to USD 4.6 billion in annual revenue from pharmaceutical development and manufacturing operations. Catalent operates nearly 50 facilities globally, including multiple large-scale U.S. manufacturing plants.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catalent became widely recognized for helping manufacture vaccines and biologic products for major pharmaceutical companies.
Key strengths include:
- Biologics manufacturing
- Cell and gene therapy production
- Sterile injectables
- Softgel technologies
- Clinical trial supply services
In 2025, Novo Holdings acquired Catalent in a deal valued at approximately USD 16.5 billion, highlighting the increasing strategic importance of the CRDMO industry.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (Patheon)
Thermo Fisher Scientific operates one of the largest pharmaceutical services businesses through its Patheon division.
The company reported projected total revenue of nearly USD 46.8 billion in 2026, with a significant contribution coming from pharmaceutical manufacturing and laboratory services.
Thermo Fisher provides:
- API manufacturing
- Clinical trial production
- Sterile fill-finish services
- Biologics manufacturing
- Packaging and logistics solutions
Its Greenville, North Carolina facility is considered one of the largest sterile drug manufacturing plants in the United States and supports large-scale commercial drug production.
Charles River Laboratories
Charles River Laboratories is a leading CRDMO and CRO company specializing in early-stage drug discovery and preclinical research.
The company reported revenue of approximately USD 4 billion and works with many global pharmaceutical and biotech firms.
Charles River’s major service areas include:
- Preclinical testing
- Toxicology research
- Biologics testing
- Cell therapy support
- Laboratory research services
The company plays a major role in helping biotech startups move experimental drugs into clinical development.
Curia
Curia is a rapidly growing U.S.-based CRDMO focused on active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), biologics, and sterile injectable manufacturing.
The company operates more than 20 facilities and generated contract manufacturing revenue estimated between USD 476 million and USD 760 million in recent years.
Curia has expanded strongly in:
- Oncology drug manufacturing
- mRNA production
- Fill-finish services
- Antibody manufacturing
- Small molecule APIs
Pfizer CentreOne
Pfizer CentreOne is the contract manufacturing business division of Pfizer.
The company generated approximately USD 1.2 billion to USD 1.5 billion in contract manufacturing revenue and operates more than 35 manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Pfizer CentreOne specializes in:
- Sterile injectable manufacturing
- API production
- Potent compound manufacturing
- Biologics production
The company benefits from Pfizer’s global pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure and regulatory expertise.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies has become one of the fastest-growing biologics CRDMO companies in the U.S.
The company has invested billions of dollars into biologics and vaccine manufacturing facilities in Texas and North Carolina. Its global biologics-related revenue has exceeded USD 1.6 billion.
The company is particularly strong in:
- Monoclonal antibody manufacturing
- Vaccine production
- Cell culture technologies
- Gene therapy support
The future outlook for the U.S. CRDMO market remains highly positive. Demand for biologics, biosimilars, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA therapies, and personalized medicines is increasing rapidly across global healthcare markets.
Experts expect CRDMO companies with advanced biologics capabilities, FDA-approved manufacturing facilities, and large-scale commercial production capacity to dominate the next decade of pharmaceutical outsourcing growth.
The industry is also witnessing increasing investment activity, mergers, and acquisitions as pharmaceutical companies race to secure manufacturing capacity for future therapies.
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