Tom Sellig, CEO, Adare Pharma Solutions

In an interview with Invest:, Tom Sellig, CEO of Adare Pharma Solutions, said that innovation, patient-centricity, and strategic relocation are fueling the company’s continued growth and leadership in the CDMO space. “Over the past few years, we’ve hired more than 100 people, so being in a talent-rich environment like Philadelphia was a critical factor,” he said.

What have been some significant milestones or achievements for Adare Pharma Solutions in the past year?

Let’s begin with a topic closely aligned with the heart of your publication: Philadelphia. One of the major milestones for us was relocating our headquarters from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. We previously operated out of New Jersey, and decided to consolidate our operations in Philadelphia. The relocation was driven by strong partnerships with the city, the state, and the Chamber of Commerce, along with the thriving life sciences community present in the area.

We have two significant sites in Philadelphia, so the relocation felt like a natural step. It was a major milestone, and we celebrated it with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by key city and state officials. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro held a press conference about the relocation at one of our facilities. The move was a significant achievement for our organization.

What were the key drivers behind the move, and how will it support your growth and talent acquisition strategies?

Our two sites in Philadelphia, a development & manufacturing site and a packaging center of excellence, both have been experiencing considerable growth. Over the past few years, we’ve hired more than 100 people, so headquartering in a talent-rich environment like Philadelphia was a critical factor.

The city offers strong access to experienced professionals and top-tier universities, and this has been essential to our expansion. Philadelphia’s geographic location also makes it an attractive hub for national and international operations. Additionally, there were compelling incentives from both the state and city, making the decision to relocate an easy one.

What initiatives have you prioritized to position Adare as a leader in the CDMO space?

To be a leader in the CDMO space, you must focus on solutions that deliver real impact across the drug development lifecycle. With that in mind, we’ve been very intentional about investing our resources in new capabilities, infrastructure, and talent.

We’ve also focused on building strategic partnerships that drive meaningful impact. One area I’m particularly excited about is 3D printing of pharmaceutical products. We’ve partnered with Laxxon Medical, a leader in pharma-technology, to provide this technology to our customers. We currently provide 3D printing at two of our sites and are in the process of installing it in Philadelphia. It allows us to develop and manufacture pharmaceutical products in an innovative way, using screen printing technology to create tablets for various therapeutic uses.

What demand trends are you observing among your pharmaceutical and biotech clients, especially with the rise of new therapies and delivery formats?

We’re seeing a wide range of requests. For instance, today I’m speaking with a client about a novel pediatric dosage form. Adare has a diverse suite of technologies that support everything from taste masking and enhanced solubility to sustained-release formulations.

To meet customer needs, we’ve also made significant investments in packaging, specifically in serialization and aggregation technologies that enable us to track products across global supply chains.

Additionally, recent policy developments like tariffs and the “Made in America” initiative are increasingly influencing our clients’ formulation and supply chain strategies. U.S.-based production with scalable capacity is becoming a top priority for customers.

How is Adare addressing the industry’s focus on patient-centric solutions like customized release profiles and improved drug adherence?

Patient-centric dosing is an area where we’re truly differentiated as a drug delivery technology company. With our broad range of platforms, we can tackle many complex formulation challenges. For example, the pediatric product I mentioned earlier has difficult properties, and we’re helping the client make it more palatable for patients with severe illnesses. One of our primary missions as a company is improving adherence and outcomes through better drug delivery.

We’re also seeing a significant shift from large molecule products, such as injectables, to oral solid dosage forms. For example, GLP-1 products for weight loss — they’re currently administered by injection, but there is a lot of interest in developing oral versions. Oral solids, which are our specialty, are easier to administer and scale, and they’re generally more cost-effective. If an oral format can match the safety and efficacy of an injectable product, it benefits everyone: patients, providers, and manufacturers alike.

What shifts have you observed in partnership models, outsourcing behaviors, or innovation pipelines?

The CDMO industry is large and highly fragmented, but we’re seeing increasing consolidation. Some companies lack the infrastructure, scalability, or operational excellence to stay competitive. On the other hand, those with strong quality systems, unique technologies, and a performance-driven culture are emerging as leaders. It’s becoming a clear case of CDMOs needing to consolidate, innovate, or exit.

How are international regulations and geopolitical developments influencing your strategy and client needs?

That’s a timely question. We operate globally, with sites in both the United States and Europe, and we work closely with regulatory agencies like the FDA and DEA. It’s a complex environment. On one side, companies can face product shortages; on the other, they can be limited by manufacturing quotas. Our experience with controlled substances gives us an edge in navigating these dynamics.

We’ve had multiple FDA audits over the past year, one of which involved the review of 700 documents. Our team is laser-focused on maintaining the highest quality standards. In addition, geopolitical developments and domestic manufacturing policies are impacting global supply chains, so we’re continually adjusting our strategy to ensure cost-effective, scalable solutions.

What would you say are the biggest operational or supply chain challenges facing CDMOs today, and how is Adare mitigating these risks?

Supply chain disruptions are an ongoing challenge across the industry. Managing this proactively is essential to minimizing risk. Like all CDMOs, we might face shortages of one material or another, but we’ve built a strong procurement and supplier relationship management team. They constantly search for eco-friendly and reliable alternative suppliers to ensure continuity and reduce our carbon footprint. 

How does Pennsylvania’s economic development compare with other major life sciences hubs where you operate?

I’ve worked in markets around the world, and I can confidently say Philadelphia is overwhelmingly friendly for life sciences companies. Recent state budgets have prioritized investments in biotech, gene therapy, small molecules, and more. The environment here is competitive on a global scale. Since moving our HQ, we’ve experienced exceptional support, networking, and infrastructure that have significantly contributed to our growth.

How does your technology differentiate you from others in this increasingly crowded space?

Our dosage form technology platforms are the foundation of our success. We offer a broad array of solutions, and we’re constantly reinvesting to expand our capabilities. I mentioned 3D printing earlier, and that’s one area we’re deeply focused on because we believe it represents the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing. In the next decade, drug production will likely look different, and we aim to lead that transformation.

How has Adare integrated technologies like AI and automation into R&D workflows?

AI is an exciting area for us. We have several initiatives underway that use AI to automate routine tasks like generating analytical testing protocols, which saves time and reduces errors. We’re also combining AI with advanced scanning technologies to revolutionize formulation development. These tools allow us to analyze formulations more deeply and identify the most effective ones faster, which will accelerate the path to market and ultimately improve the lives of patients.

What is your outlook for the next two to three years?

Everything we do starts with patients. Our goal is to deliver smarter, more effective solutions that make a real difference in their lives.

Our client-centric culture is also crucial, driving our commitment to getting a little better every day through continuous improvement. Sometimes that means big leaps, like adopting cutting-edge technologies, and sometimes it’s making small but impactful efficiency gains.

Over the next few years, we’ll continue to invest in technology, expand our development capabilities, and bring more products to market efficiently. Ultimately, Adare wants to be the partner that helps clients deliver life-changing therapies to patients around the world.