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What does it take to build a CDMO designed around speed, integration, and true scientific collaboration?

This week on Making It In Manufacturing, Harry Sloan sat down with LakshmiDevi Ethirajan, Co-Founder & CEO of SmaBioLabs, with 25+ years of experience spanning big pharma, small pharma, and CDMO leadership roles across drug development and manufacturing.

In this episode, LakshmiDevi Ethirajan covers:

• How a background in pharmacy and pharmaceutical development led to the creation of SmaBioLabs and the vision behind building a fully integrated CDMO

• Why bringing discovery, formulation development, and analytical services together under one roof reduces risk and improves program execution

• The importance of speed and flexibility in pharmaceutical development, including why projects at SmaBioLabs begin within two weeks of contract signing

• How technical integration between discovery scientists and formulation teams supports complex molecules and improves development outcomes

• The long-term vision for SmaBioLabs, including commercial manufacturing expansion and becoming a complete end-to-end partner for sponsors

If you are involved in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotech growth, CDMO strategy, or drug development leadership, this conversation offers a practical perspective on building scalable scientific partnerships in a rapidly evolving industry.

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LakshmiDevi Ethirajan

Co-Founder & CEO of SmaBioLabs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lakshmidevi-ethirajan/

Harry Sloan

BD CDMO Lead at ARTO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-sloan-605620154/

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:14 LakshmiDevi Ethirajan’s journey into pharmaceuticals

01:07 Why sponsor and CDMO alignment matters

02:27 Building an end-to-end CDMO model

03:58 Speed and flexibility in drug development

05:00 Supporting complex molecules through integration

06:46 The meaning behind the SmaBio Labs name

07:56 Growth plans and commercial manufacturing ambitions

08:51 Standing out in the competitive CDMO market

10:17 The North Carolina biotech ecosystem

12:37 Leadership, culture, and patient impact

13:53 Closing remarks

#MakingItInManufacturing #ARTOTalent #CDMO #PharmaceuticalManufacturing #DrugDevelopment #Biotech #LifeSciences #ManufacturingLeadership #PharmaIndustry #Biotechnology #DrugDiscovery #AnalyticalServices #FormulationDevelopment

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