Customizing Stability: Strategies for Partners in the Life Sciences Industry
Interview with Lauren Kjeldsen, Chief Operation Officer Custom Solutions, Evonik
From breakthrough innovations and the rise of personalized medicine to the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the forces reshaping pharma are both powerful and unpredictable. The surge in investment during the pandemic has given way to a sustained industry correction—marked by reduced funding due to high interest rates, pipeline rationalization, and widespread layoffs across biotech and mid-to-large pharma. Supply chains, once optimized for cost, have been exposed as vulnerable. At the same time, regulations are tightening, and sustainability is becoming a baseline expectation. The pressure to deliver life-saving therapies reliably and affordably has never been greater. For Evonik, a trusted partner to the pharmaceutical industry, resilience is more than a concept—it’s a guiding principle. In this interview, Lauren Kjeldsen, Chief Operation Officer Custom Solutions, shares how the company is rising to meet these challenges.
CHEManager: What key trends do you see shaping the stability and future direction of the global pharma market in the coming years?
Lauren Kjeldsen: We’re seeing a convergence of major forces that are reshaping the pharmaceutical landscape—and they’re happening all at once. Innovation in new drug modalities like nucleic acids and even personalized medicine are driving a transformation in the industry. These innovative solutions demand highly tailored formulation and functional delivery systems, which is why Evonik is investing in advanced drug delivery technologies, including nucleic acid delivery platforms.
Another trend that can no longer be ignored is sustainability. Green chemistry, carbon emissions reduction, and circular production models are becoming foundational to how pharma companies operate. Customers are asking us how we can help them reduce their footprint—and here we are well-positioned to work with them across the entire value chain because sustainability is core to our strategy at Evonik.
Digitalization is also accelerating across the industry. AI and data-driven tools are transforming everything from drug discovery to supply chain optimization. These technologies are helping us improve forecasting, reduce waste, and respond more quickly to market shifts. It’s about building smarter, more agile systems that can adapt in real time.
Finally, there’s a growing need to balance global reach with regional resilience. The pandemic and geopolitical tensions have shown us the risks of over-reliance on single regions.
“Sustainability is fully integrated into Evonik’s strategy and is an integral part of our purpose – to improve life, today and tomorrow.”
How does your organization balance the need for agility and innovation with regulatory compliance and cost pressures in today’s volatile environment?
L. Kjeldsen: Our strategy for our life sciences businesses is built around science-based innovation, customer-centric business models, and operational agility. One great example is the way we leveraged our agility, knowledge and assets during the COVID-19 pandemic to ramp up the production of lipids needed for mRNA vaccines in record time. I am convinced that our approach of building synergies within our diverse business enables us to address challenges as they evolve.
We work closely with customers in countries all over the world and having facilities located across Europe, the U.S. and Asia allows us to respond quickly, tailor solutions, and build long-term partnerships rooted in trust and performance. This is also true for regulatory support—our customers benefit from a global regulatory network that helps them navigate complex compliance requirements.
What strategic initiatives or partnerships are you prioritizing to ensure resilience and long-term success amid ongoing industry uncertainty?
L. Kjeldsen: In partnership with the pharmaceutical industry, we’re driving innovation across key areas such as drug delivery technologies, bioresorbable excipients, pharmaceutical lipids, and advanced solutions for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Central to this progress is our focus on precision biosolutions, which serve as a major growth driver and a cornerstone of our strategy.
We’re also prioritizing regional balance by aligning our production networks to support local-for-local manufacturing. This is especially critical in the U.S., where reshoring efforts are gaining momentum.
This article was published in CHEManager International 3/2025
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