This week, SpeakPharma interviews Abdelaziz Toumi, Chief Executive Officer of Lupin Manufacturing Solutions (LMS). With over two decades of global leadership experience in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors, Toumi has been instrumental in shaping LMS’s transformation into a science-driven, client-centric CDMO. Under his leadership, LMS has expanded into complex APIs, oncology manufacturing, and sustainability-led operations.
In this exclusive interview with PharmaCompass, Toumi shares how the company is reshaping its CDMO strategy to serve the evolving needs of global pharma and biotech clients. He also talks about LMS’s latest milestone — the commissioning of a new dedicated oncology block at its Vizag site as the company strengthens its position in high-potency and complex API development ahead of CPHI Frankfurt.
Lupin Manufacturing Solutions has been gaining visibility lately. For those who might not be familiar, how would you describe LMS and its vision within the Lupin Group?
LMS represents Lupin’s commitment to extending its scientific excellence and manufacturing quality into the CDMO space. LMS was created with a clear vision to collaborate with innovators, biotech firms, and pharmaceutical companies to accelerate their molecules from development to commercial scale, with the assurance of Lupin’s global quality and compliance standards.
In essence, LMS blends Lupin’s heritage of trust with the flexibility and customer-focus of a pure-play CDMO. That’s our DNA.
HIGHLIGHTS// Extending scientific excellence to CDMO/assurance of global quality, compliance standards/blending heritage of trust with flexibility, customer focus
What makes LMS different in an increasingly competitive global CDMO market?
The CDMO industry today is not about who has the largest capacity. Rather, it’s about who brings the most value, scientific innovation and speed to the table. Our edge lies in complex chemistry capabilities, deep regulatory expertise, and a culture built around collaboration and accountability.
We focus on areas where precision and containment matter, including highly potent APIs (HPAPIs), oncology, and niche small molecules, and we back that up with teams who think beyond manufacturing, toward solving our clients’ development and commercialization challenges.
HIGHLIGHTS// Complex chemistry capabilities/deep regulatory expertise/culture built around collaboration and accountability
You mentioned oncology as a key focus area. Can you share more about LMS’s plans in this space?
Yes, and I am happy to share this first with PharmaCompass — that we have just commissioned our new oncology block at our Vizag site, which is now operationally ready.
This is a major step forward for LMS. The facility has been purpose-built for HPAPIs and oncology APIs, and is equipped with advanced containment systems, over 20 reactors and more than 20 isolators. It has a team of over 100 highly skilled scientists specializing in complex and hazardous chemistries.
It expands both our capacity and our confidence to support partners in developing targeted cancer therapies. More importantly, it signals our intent — that we are serious about being a global partner of choice in the oncology CDMO space.
HIGHLIGHTS// Commissioned new oncology block at Vizag/facility built for HPAPIs, oncology APIs/equipped with advanced containment systems/100 skilled scientists
That’s an exciting development. What opportunities do you see in the oncology manufacturing segment globally?
The oncology segment is transforming the pharmaceutical landscape. Globally, it is one of the segments with the highest number of development drugs in the pipeline. With the rise of targeted therapies, potent compounds, and smaller-volume high-value APIs, clients are looking for CDMO partners who combine containment expertise with speed and reliability.
We see a strong opportunity here, especially as innovators look to move from lab to commercial scale faster, without compromising safety or compliance. LMS is stepping into this gap with the right infrastructure, people, and mindset to deliver.
HIGHLIGHTS// Oncology transforming pharmaceutical landscape/highest number of drugs in pipeline/clients looking for CDMOs in oncology space
CPHI Frankfurt is around the corner. What can we expect from LMS this year?
This CPHI will be a defining one for us. We will be showcasing LMS as a comprehensive small-molecule CDMO, with a sharpened focus on high-potency and oncology manufacturing.
Our conversations in Frankfurt will center around how we can help clients navigate development complexity with the confidence of partnering with a science-first, quality-driven CDMO. People will see a refreshed LMS — one that’s growing fast, innovating continuously, and thinking globally.
HIGHLIGHTS// Frankfurt CPHI to be a defining one for LMS/helping clients navigate development complexity with confidence/science-first, quality-driven CDMO
Quality and sustainability are gaining importance in CDMO partnerships. How is LMS addressing these dimensions?
For us, quality and sustainability are a part of our culture. Every process at LMS is anchored in patient safety, compliance, and continuous improvement. Our regulatory systems are built on Lupin’s decades of global experience, and we are leveraging that legacy in every project we take on.
On sustainability, we are investing in green chemistry principles, waste minimization, and energy-efficient operations. We believe responsible manufacturing is not just an ESG statement; it’s good business and essential for long-term trust.
HIGHLIGHTS// Quality, sustainability part of culture/processes anchored in patient safety, compliance/regulatory systems built on decades of global experience/investing in sustainability
Partnership seems to be a recurring theme for LMS. How do you define a true CDMO partnership?
A real partnership starts with shared ambition. We see ourselves not just as a manufacturer, but as an innovation partner working as an extension of our client’s R&D and operations teams. The most successful projects we have delivered are those where we have been involved early, and those that align us on the development strategy, risk management, and commercial readiness.
That is what we mean when we say we are building science-led partnerships — these are partnerships that are collaborative, transparent, and outcome-driven.
HIGHLIGHTS// Innovation partner working as an extension of clients’ R&D, ops team/need to involve LMS early for successful projects/building science-led partnerships
Finally, what is next for LMS as you look beyond this milestone?
The oncology block is just the beginning of a larger journey. We are scaling our analytical and development services, peptide synthesis capabilities, adding bioconjugation services, expanding global business development, and investing in digital and automation initiatives to make project execution even more seamless. Our goal is to evolve into a trusted global CDMO partner that combines Lupin’s credibility with next-generation manufacturing and scientific agility.
As I like to say – we are not just manufacturing APIs; we are manufacturing trust, innovation, and long-term partnerships.
HIGHLIGHTS// Scaling analytical, development services, peptide synthesis capabilities/adding bioconjugation services/expanding global business/investing in digital initiatives
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