Event Recap: Supply Risk Management in 2025

By Julian Applebaum

With geopolitical tensions creating significant instability in global supply chains, on top of continuing economic uncertainty and regulatory shifts, many biopharma companies are rethinking their Supply Risk Management (SRM) strategies. Converge Consulting, in collaboration with Apellis Pharmaceuticals, recently hosted “Supply Risk Management in 2025: Anticipating & Mitigating Supply Disruption.” During this webinar, consultants from Converge were joined by Chad Presher, Senior Director of Clinical Supply Chain at Apellis Pharmaceuticals. The webinar provided an in-depth look at emerging supply risk management trends such as tariff risk management and practical strategies to build resilient, future-ready supply chains.

Supply Chain Volatility is Rising—Predictive SRM is the Response

Converge Practice Director, Jeremy Friedler opened the session with a candid discussion of the current macro-volatility our biopharma clients are experiencing, and the limitations of traditional, reactive approaches to SRM in the industry. The latter often rely on periodic assessments of Tier 1 suppliers and focus narrowly on compliance metrics. The traditional supply risk model, which responds to disruptions after they occur, is proving inadequate in today’s environment.

In contrast, Jeremy introduced a predictive SRM model, offering a more forward-looking solution. This model continuously monitors risk and dynamically adjusts supplier risk mitigation strategies. Ashutosh Pandit, a Senior Consultant at Converge, explained that leveraging real-time data feeds, multitier supplier assessments, and integrated cross-functional processes enables companies to better anticipate and mitigate disruptions before they occur.

Importantly, Jeremy and Ash both emphasized the importance of moving beyond traditional metrics for risk assessment and looking at broader comprehensive risk dimensions such as financial, geopolitical, M&A, legal, and cybersecurity.

Inside Apellis Pharmaceuticals’ Predictive SRM Transformation

Apellis’ Chad Presher shared his experience with four particular strategies for strengthening SRM by shifting to a predictive approach:

  1. Multitier Supplier Risk Assessments – Evaluate Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers for risk vulnerabilities, prioritizing suppliers based on criticality and business continuity impact. Apellis reviewed their entire supply network, examining more than 500 SKUs across 20 suppliers, looking at on-hand inventory positions for components against their replenishment times. They also assessed the resilience of their supply partners. This provided a baseline for what types of risk they faced.
  2. Enhanced Supplier Risk Metrics – Apellis then moved beyond typical quality and delivery metrics by also considering geopolitical exposure, macroeconomic factors, financial viability, regulatory risks, sourcing strategy, and business continuity planning.
  3. Advanced Risk Intelligence Tools – Use real-time data monitoring tools for evaluating and identifying risks, and integrate alerts and scenario modeling for proactive supplier risk mitigation.
  4. Scalable Adaptive Processes – Build a cross-functional SRM business process involving Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory and Finance. Utilize existing forums and processes where possible, such as quarterly reviews, to embed supplier risk monitoring into ongoing operations as a continuous process – not just annually! Share predictions with partners and suppliers to build a resilient supplier network. Apellis appointed a Risk Coordinator to drive these improvements and integrate risk assessments into their ongoing governance process.

Key Takeaways

  • With geopolitical risks increasing, the supplier risk landscape is evolving rapidly and biopharma companies must move beyond reactive SRM.
  • Predictive, data-driven SRM enables greater supply resilience by identifying and managing risks before disruptions occur.
  • Now is the time for biopharma companies to assess their current supplier risk framework for comprehensiveness and agility, and identify opportunities to become more predictive by incorporating multitier risk assessments, predictive data feeds, and forward-looking business processes into SRM.
  • Biopharma companies that modernize SRM gain a competitive edge and business benefits in ensuring supply continuity, regulatory and GMP compliance, and patient access.

For help evaluating your supply risk management strategies and strengthening your own SRM processes, contact the Converge Consulting team today at info@convergeconsulting.com.

Julian Applebaum is an Operations Coordinator with Converge Consulting with a MPhil in socio-legal research from the University of Oxford and a BS in political science from Macalester College.