Contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) need to deliver compliant, scalable, and supply-resilient biomanufacturing processes - at speed and without surprises.

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Animal-component-free (ACF) inputs, especially cell culture media, offer a clear advantage. They eliminate the variability, risk, and ethical concerns associated with animal-derived components such as fetal bovine serum (FBS).

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ACF formulations enable CDMOs to operate with greater confidence and control - and offer more attractive programs to their clients. Here’s why we’re seeing more CDMOs make the shift to ACF:

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Animal-Derived Inputs Introduce Regulatory Risk

Animal-derived inputs introduce inherent batch-to-batch variability. That means more testing, more controls, and more headaches when regulators come knocking. As regulatory expectations tighten around traceability, consistency, and process definition, using undefined components raises friction at every stage. Industry analyses show that serum and plasma-derived inputs exhibit significant inconsistencies in protein heterogeneity, growth factor content, and biochemical profile, which can easily translate into batch failures in sensitive applications like cell and gene therapies (Curl, 2026).

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By contrast, animal-free inputs are batch-consistent. That means smoother tech transfer and a reduced risk of red flags in audits and regulatory submissions. At Multus, we achieve this through MediOP™ - our AI-driven media design platform that creates chemically defined formulations. We help CDMOs create media with fewer variables to control, easier regulatory filings, and more predictable outcomes.

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This matters for CDMOs because ACF inputs simplify compliance and reduce client audit friction - enabling you to move projects through regulatory pathways faster, and with fewer obstacles.

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Animal-Derived Inputs Create Supply Chain Risk

FBS and similar components don’t just come with variability - they also come with volatility. Supply shortages, geopolitical risk, disease outbreaks, and ethics-based sourcing bans mean animal-derived inputs are exposed to many risks. In fact, even a 5% reduction in US beef production could trigger a 30-50% decrease in FBS production (Corning, 2025).

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ACF alternatives offer traceability, scalability, and reliable multi-source supply chains. These inputs are less exposed to global disruptions and can be more tightly integrated into secure procurement strategies. At Multus, we design media formulations for our clients that are animal-component-free and built with supply resilience in mind.

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For CDMOs wanting to shield clients from costly programme delays, unexpected cost overruns, and uncertainty in mission-critical supply chains, ACF is the obvious choice.

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Animal-Derived Inputs Create Competitive Disadvantage

Biotech and pharmaceutical clients - especially in fast-moving or consumer-facing sectors - increasingly expect animal-free options during early process development. Serum-free media already account for 37% of total global media revenue (Biospace, 2024) and are described as crucial for applications that demand consistent performance and reduced infection risk, such as cell and gene therapies.

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Failing to offer ACF options risks losing some projects to more forward-thinking competitors. CDMOs that can deliver ACF-compatible processes early on are poised to become strategic partners to many emerging biomanufacturing companies. At Multus, we make that readiness easy. Our MediOP™ platform enables rapid design or adaptation of ACF media, tailored to your clients’ needs and regulatory requirements. With Multus as a media partner, CDMOs can differentiate themselves, secure more projects, and deliver consistent, compliant performance from early development to scale-up.

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Why Leading CDMOs Are Moving to Animal-Component-Free Media

At Multus, we work with CDMOs that are tired of firefighting batch inconsistencies or managing complex validations tied to outdated inputs. They’re making a proactive shift to ACF media - and seeing benefits across every phase:

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• ACF media eliminates many of the red flags regulators associate with animal-derived ingredients.
• ACF media are not tied to fragile, volatile sourcing pipelines, reducing programme delays and cost overruns.
• Biotech and pharma clients increasingly expect ACF options as standard.

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When every client has a slightly different platform and process, the ability to offer media that’s both customisable and low-risk is a competitive edge.

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Ready To Offer Animal-Component-Free Media?

Our services make it easy to transition away from outdated media - without compromising on performance or timelines. 

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We’ve designed our services to meet the needs of CDMOs managing complex portfolios and tight timelines: 

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• Our Express service is built for rapid, iterative testing with results in as little as 1-3 months - ideal for quick optimisations and troubleshooting. 
• Our Boost service allows teams to enhance existing media by adding targeted supplements that improve performance without overhauling the full process, in as little as 3-6 months. 
• Our De Novo service creates new ACF media from scratch in 6-9 months - designed specifically for CDMOs that require fully custom solutions to meet unique biological, operational, and regulatory demands.

‍Learn more about how our technology can help de-risk your platform and strengthen your offer to clients.