Lonza urges biotech firms to prioritize early de-risking to streamline IND path

In a recent interview, Jaime Okray of Lonza highlighted that emerging biotech companies are shifting focus from pure speed to early identification of development risks as they aim for an IND filing.

He noted that small teams often face tight timelines and limited resources, so problems such as formulation hurdles, analytical gaps, or late-stage uncertainties can trigger costly delays and erode investor confidence.

The new approach favors generating decision-ready data early, giving clearer insight into molecule selection, formulation strategies and analytical readiness, which reduces the chance of program-defining setbacks.

Drawing on work with roughly 1,500 biotech partners, Lonza stresses that pairing technical expertise with flexible support helps protect capital, strengthen decision-making and improve the likelihood of a successful IND submission.