The three key trends that will most impact drug development in 2025

The speed of change in the drug development and manufacturing sector requires its stakeholders to be proactive in understanding and addressing key trends and directions the industry is taking. As a global market of considerable size and significance, the value of which is anticipated to grow from $589.06 billion in 2024 to $632.71 billion in 2025 [1], the pharmaceutical industry should aim to forecast current and future trends driving the field. Sharing knowledge and predictions fosters collaboration among researchers, industry players and policymakers, leading to more innovative solutions and a more robust drug development ecosystem that ultimately benefits patients. With this in mind, Kindeva’s CCO, David Stevens has identified three key trends that will impact the field in 2025.

Emerging trends shaping the future of drug development

Trend 1: Sustainability taking center stage
Pharmaceutical companies are seeking ways to reduce environmental impact to meet growing regulatory pressures and demand for eco-conscious products. This includes not only reducing waste but also switching to more environmentally friendly options for critical components like propellants used in delivery devices. Supporting these efforts, Kindeva is helping developers streamline the transition to low global warming potential (GWP) propellants as companies explore and adopt more sustainable alternatives. There is also a growing emphasis on investing in energy-efficient technologies and processes to aid decarbonization, with companies assessing carbon emissions across their entire supply chains.

Trend 2: Shifting focus in injectable drug manufacturing
The injectable drug market is poised for significant growth, in part due to the surging demand for GLP-1 receptor agonist therapies [2, 3]. This, combined with the increasingly stringent regulatory landscape exemplified by Annex 1, is driving a revolution in fill-finish operations. We expect to see more significant investment in automation and robotics, advanced isolator technologies and flexible filling lines to meet the rising demand for sterile injectables.
Another interesting development in this space is the shift toward advanced delivery systems, such as prefilled syringes, autoinjectors, cartridges, wearable injectors and microneedle array patches. Kindeva’s injectable technologies offer companies access to a range of customized drug-delivery options to meet the needs of all patients.

Trend 3: The rise of the strategic CDMO
The role of contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) is evolving from a transactional service provider to a true strategic partner. As drug development becomes more complex, pharma companies increasingly seek CDMOs offering specialized expertise in complex formulations and advanced drug delivery technologies. CDMOs are investing in technologically advanced capabilities to streamline operations and foster greater efficiency, helping companies meet the growing demand for patient-centric solutions and targeted therapies. Vertically and horizontally integrated services allow CDMO partners to handle various stages of development and manufacturing, from early stage to commercialization and beyond. This eliminates the need for companies to work with multiple CDMOs, minimizing knowledge transfer needs and streamlining timelines.

Meeting the complex needs of pharmaceutical manufacturing

With the rising demand for advanced therapeutics driving innovation in injectable drug manufacturing, the industry’s focus is on complex formulations. The demand for personalized medicine is, in turn, leading companies to develop smaller batch sizes and more flexible manufacturing processes for injectable drugs. Flexible CDMOs offering support at every stage and scale, from small batches to large commercial production, are best placed to meet the varied requirements of their clients and the diverse needs of patients around the world.

To learn how you can optimize your drug development with Kindeva’s specialized expertise and integrated solutions, connect with our experts today.

References:

1. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/21/3012818/0/en/Pharmaceutical-Manufacturing-Market-Size-to-Worth-USD-1203-95-Billion-by-2033-Straits-Research.html
2. https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/injectable-drug-delivery-devices-industry
3. Watanabe JH, Kwon J, Nan B, Reikes A. Trends in glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use, 2014 to 2022. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2024 Jan-Feb;64(1):133-138.