In today’s rapidly evolving biopharmaceutical landscape, speed, agility and reliability are more critical than ever. For global contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) like Catalent, success depends on the ability to scale efficiently while maintaining consistency across complex, multi-site operations.

That’s where strategic partnerships matter.

As a trusted distributor of a global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technologies industries, VWR®, part of Avantor®, empowers the work of scientists, manufacturers and healthcare innovators around the world. From research and development through commercial production, VWR serves as a champion to provide supply chain solutions supporting Catalent’s global operations.

Supply chain solutions

Through its extensive portfolio of laboratory and production solutions, global distribution network and customized services capabilities, VWR personalizes support for customers helping to improve operational performance while maintaining speed, quality and reliability. 

“Our role as a strategic partner to Catalent is to simplify complexity,” says Corey Walker, President, VWR Distribution and Services. “Catalent operates in a highly dynamic environment where flexibility and speed are essential. We provide the scale, supply continuity and visibility needed to help their teams operate efficiently and focus on delivering for their customers.”

The collaboration builds upon a multi-year supply and services agreement designed to support Catalent’s global manufacturing footprint with both production materials and laboratory consumables. The relationship spans multiple business units and geographies, helping create greater consistency across operations while reducing fragmentation in sourcing and supply management.

Beyond supplying products, VWR helps Catalent optimize how materials move across its network – supporting procurement efficiency, inventory management, operational visibility and site-level coordination. By integrating services with supply, VWR enables a more streamlined and scalable operating model that can adapt alongside Catalent’s evolving business needs.

Rather than operating as a traditional supplier, VWR works closely with Catalent through a structured governance model focused on communication, continuous improvement and strategic alignment. Regular operational and leadership touchpoints support day-to-day execution, while quarterly business reviews provide opportunities to assess performance, identify efficiencies and align on long-term objectives.

That consistent engagement creates a continuous feedback loop that allows both organizations to respond quickly, proactively address challenges and adapt to evolving business needs.

“We’ve built a partnership grounded in transparency and accessibility,” Walker continues. “There’s open communication at every level of the organization, including direct engagement with leadership teams. That level of collaboration helps us stay aligned, solve challenges faster and continuously improve together.”

Productive partnerships

For Catalent, which supports some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, supply chain reliability is foundational to success. With a shared commitment to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes, VWR helps Catalent’s mission to develop, manufacture and supply products that help people live better and healthier lives. Combining enterprise-wide capabilities with local expertise, VWR helps Catalent maintain consistency across its network while providing the flexibility and responsiveness needed to support evolving manufacturing demands.  

In a CDMO environment where client-specified materials are often required, responsiveness can be the difference between delay and delivery. VWR’s extensive portfolio, supplier network and sourcing expertise allow Catalent teams to move quickly while maintaining continuity across sites and regions.

The partnership also delivers greater visibility into procurement and operational performance. By helping standardize processes and improve transparency into spend, VWR enables Catalent to manage costs more effectively while maintaining flexibility across its network. On-site inventory management support from VWR Services further strengthens operational efficiency and day-to-day reliability.

As the biopharmaceutical industry continues to evolve, both organizations remain focused on continuous improvement and long-term value creation.

“Catalent relies on us to help simplify and standardize supply across their global network while continuously identifying opportunities for innovation and improvement,” says Walker. “By staying closely connected and aligned, we’re able to support their operations today while helping prepare for what’s next.”

As life sciences companies navigate increasing complexity and accelerating timelines, partnerships like the one between VWR and Catalent demonstrate the value of collaboration, transparency and shared commitment in advancing global healthcare innovation.