Improving Resiliency in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Through Make-Buy-Invest Strategic Actions: A Workshop

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will host a two-day hybrid public workshop titled Improving Resiliency in the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Through Make-Buy-Invest Strategic Actions, taking place October 22–23, 2025, at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC.

This event brings together leading experts, policymakers, and stakeholders in public health, biomedical innovation, and global health security to examine how strategic “make, buy, and invest” approaches can bolster the stability and responsiveness of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.

• Make: Shift pharmaceutical production to domestic manufacturers to reduce dependence on foreign supply.
• Buy: Prioritize partnerships with international manufacturers that adhere to high-quality standards.
• Invest: Realign pharmaceutical sourcing from high-risk regions to more reliable countries and regions with strong governance and existing partnerships.

The workshop will focus on:

• Identifying key drugs and markets that stand to benefit most from these strategies;
• Assessing opportunities and barriers to implementation;
• Outlining essential next steps, core needs, and associated costs for operationalizing these strategies.

This discussion is particularly timely, as global events—from pandemics and geopolitical conflicts to natural disasters—continue to expose vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain. The workshop will highlight how these make-buy-invest strategies can reduce drug shortages and enhance resilience against future disruptions.

A summary report, Proceedings of a Workshop–in Brief, will be developed following the event to capture key themes and insights shared during the sessions.

This workshop is designed for public health professionals, policymakers, supply chain experts, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and others working at the intersection of health security and critical infrastructure.

This workshop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and Johns Hopkins University. Their support reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the resilience of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain—an issue critical to national security, public health preparedness, and global health stability.

To learn more about the workshop and receive the latest updates, including registration details, please visit the event page on the National Academies website.