The pharmaceutical industry, especially emerging biopharma, is experiencing rapid and transformative growth. Over the past five years, the U.S. biotechnology industry has seen a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%, reaching $215.4 billion in revenue with an anticipated growth of 2.0% in 2024[1]. While COVID-19 drove significant investment in biotech, today’s expansion persists despite recent funding slowdowns. This growth trajectory has led to an increased demand for outsourcing solutions, particularly bioanalytical testing, as emerging pharma companies navigate resource constraints and complex development pathways. Emerging pharmaceutical companies are increasingly challenging the dominance of big pharma, particularly in innovative fields like gene therapy. As a result, nearly 54% of potential blockbuster drugs are now expected to come from smaller and emerging pharma companies[2]. Despite this rapid growth, emerging companies continue to face challenges such as funding and access to trained personnel. They face the decision to “build” in-house capabilities or “buy” services from CROs – a choice complicated by limited resources and the steep learning curve associated with early-stage development. Strategic partnerships thus become essential, not only for operational efficiency but also for collaborative problem-solving. Making informed outsourcing decisions and building strong relationships with CROs are critical for the success of emerging biopharma companies. This whitepaper explores how emerging pharma companies can leverage CRO partnerships effectively within the biopharma landscape. Additionally, we share unique insights from case studies and webinar polls, providing a fair industry representation of outsourcing trends and partnership dynamics empowering smaller companies on their path to market. To Build or Buy? A critical decision for emerging pharma companies is whether to invest in building in-house capabilities or to rely on outsourcing. Both options have their advantages, but for many small and mid-sized companies, outsourcing offers a more strategic approach, particularly when working with bioanalytical testing or other specialized services.