Bioprocess Online's 2025 Editorial Reflections

By Tyler Menichiello, Chief Editor, Bioprocess Online

If I had to describe 2025 in three words, they would be: growth, trepidation, and encouragement. Though, perhaps growing pains is more accurate than “growth.” The biopharma industry is changing, and the U.S. in particular is feeling the effects — from the change of administrations to the change of leadership at the FDA, all amplified by the squeeze of an economy that makes one keenly aware of overhead costs.

But there is cause for optimism:

• Funding is tight, but existent, and roughly comparable to last year. Investors remain cautious, but clear vision, good data, and lean execution can still get dollars.
• Big Pharma is setting a healthy precedent via Eli Lilly’s partnership with TuneLab, leading the way in pre-competitive data insight sharing.
• The U.S. government is making a push to onshore and strengthen domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing via initiatives like the National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
• We continue to see promising use cases of AI and digital tools improving biomanufacturing.

There is another reason to be optimistic heading into 2026: Bioprocess Online will continue highlighting the conversations and ideas that matter in the world of biomanufacturing. As we close the door on 2025, I wanted to reflect on some of my favorite projects from the year and provide a preview of what 2026 will have in store.

How Can We Better Biopharma?

Bioprocess Online started a new podcast this year called “Better Biopharma.” New episodes drop every other Wednesday (AKA “Better Biopharma Wednesdays”) featuring conversations with leaders and experts across the space who share their thoughts on how we can move the industry forward and improve the way we design, develop, and manufacture biopharmaceuticals. It’s been incredibly fun to build this podcast from scratch with my team, and I couldn’t have done it without them.

To give you an idea of just how diverse these conversations are, here are some of the topics we’ve covered this year:

• Using algae to manufacture oral biologics. This was the very first episode, and it features Lumen Bioscience’s EVP of production and development, Craig Behnke, Ph.D., who explains the company's chlorophyll-powered approach to bioprocessing using photosynthetic cyanobacteria.
• The CMC challenges conditionally active biologics (CABs) face. This episode features Bonum Therapeutics' chief scientific officer, Diane Hollenbaugh, Ph.D., and chief business officer, Neela Patel, Ph.D.
• How operations research can be coupled with AI to improve biomanufacturing. Tinglong Dai, Ph.D., Bernard T. Ferrari Professor of Business at Johns Hopkins University, and Tugce Martagan, Ph.D., associate professor at Northeastern University, discuss their recent paper on the subject, “Synergizing Artificial Intelligence And Operations Research For Advancements In Biomanufacturing.”

It's been an exciting journey, and we’ve only just begun. Subscribe to “Better Biopharma” wherever you get your podcasts to stay up to date on the latest conversations with industry leaders and experts. In the near future, you can expect to see episodes on how to navigate outsourced manufacturing, regulatory guidance around AI use, and supporting the next generation of biomanufacturing workers.

Coming To You Live From Bioprocess Online

Throughout the year, Bioprocess Online hosted virtual Q&A panel discussions with experts exploring a wide range of topics, from CMC strategies for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to single-use technologies and digital tools used to accelerate product development. These were all recorded and archived on our site, and there will be plenty more coming your way in 2026.

In fact, I will be moderating our first Bioprocess Online Live event of the year, “Protecting Bioprocessing Operations And Supply Chains In A Turbulent Economy,” on Tuesday, January 20, at 11 a.m. Eastern. You can register to attend here. Stay tuned throughout 2026 to be notified about all upcoming Live events, which are all free to attend thanks to the support from our generous sponsors.

Heading into 2026, I want to encourage readers to remember that growth is not linear, nor is it always apparent when it’s happening. The industry is changing, but its present difficulties should be viewed as growing pains rather than enduring challenges. No one knows what developments await in 2026, but one thing you can count on is that Bioprocess Online will continue to provide the latest thought leadership and practical guidance on developing and manufacturing biologics.