Leading Outsourced Analytical Testing Firms Supporting Pharmaceutical Innovation

In the pharmaceutical sector, the reliability of analytical data plays a decisive role in determining whether a new therapy progresses through regulatory review. The demand for outsourced analytical testing continues to rise as drug products become more complex. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 55 novel drugs were approved in 2023, reflecting a sustained pipeline of innovative therapies that require comprehensive analytical evaluation (Source: www.fda.gov).

Research and development activity further reinforces this demand. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that R&D spending across the OECD region increased by 2.4% (inflation-adjusted) from 2022 to 2023, driven largely by business R&D investment in science-based industries, including pharmaceuticals (Source: www.oecd.org).

Quality testing remains essential to ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes this through its guidelines on good practices for pharmaceutical quality-control laboratories, outlining requirements for testing procedures, documentation, and method verification.

Kings Research estimates that the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market is projected to reach $4.68 billion by 2031. Within this environment, specialized contract research organizations (CROs) and analytical service providers play an increasingly important role.

This blog highlights the 10 leading companies advancing the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market through scientific expertise, regulatory alignment, and expanded service capabilities.

10 Key Companies in the Pharmaceutical Analytical Testing Outsourcing Market

1. Charles River Laboratories

Charles River Laboratories is a global provider of preclinical and clinical laboratory services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The company offers analytical testing solutions such as microbial detection, bioassays, impurity testing, and stability studies.

With expertise in supporting drug development from discovery to commercialization, Charles River helps pharmaceutical firms meet stringent regulatory standards while optimizing their research and production processes.

In September 2025, Charles River Laboratories announced a $13 million investment in its West Ashley, South Carolina, facility to build a new cleanroom and install automation equipment, expanding its microbial testing and batch-release capacity.

2. Eurofins Scientific

Eurofins Scientific is a major player in the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market, specializing in a broad range of testing services. The company provides pharmaceutical quality control, bioanalytical testing, raw material analysis, and GMP-compliant stability studies. Eurofins supports drug manufacturers with in-depth analytical capabilities, ensuring compliance with global regulatory authorities such as the FDA and EMA.

In March 2025, Eurofins completed the acquisition of SYNLAB’s clinical-diagnostics operations in Spain, adding about €140 million (USD 162.7 million) in revenues and expanding its bioanalytical and diagnostic testing footprint.

In September 2025, Eurofins announced the completion of its purchase of related-party-owned lab sites, financed via bonds, to reduce its long-term rental costs and strengthen its owned laboratory network.

3. Intertek Group plc

Intertek Group is one of the leading players in the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market that offers tailored solutions for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries.

Its services include chemical characterization, elemental impurity analysis, extractables and leachables testing, and method development. Intertek’s global laboratories support clients with regulatory submissions, ensuring that their drug products meet stringent safety and quality requirements.

As part of advancing technology-focused testing, many labs increasingly adopt process analytical technology (PAT) tools to support real-time monitoring and regulatory compliance.

In May 2025, Intertek expanded its pharmaceutical services lab near Cambridge (Melbourn, UK), adding 6,000 sq ft to enhance its capacity for inhaled biologics, including mRNA and nucleotide-based therapies.

In October 2025, Intertek launched expert extractables & leachables (E&L) testing services to comply with new Korean Pharmacopeia rules, addressing a regulatory requirement that becomes mandatory in mid-2025.

4. SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA

SGS is a leading provider of pharmaceutical testing and quality assurance services. The company offers analytical chemistry, bioanalysis, stability testing, and method validation to support pharmaceutical development. With a network of accredited laboratories worldwide, SGS ensures that pharmaceutical companies can meet compliance requirements while enhancing the efficiency of their drug development processes.

In January 2025, SGS acquired RTI Laboratories, a Michigan-based provider of environmental and materials testing services. This acquisition strengthens SGS's North American presence and enhances its capabilities in PFAS analysis and material testing, adding 30 employees to SGS. It also marks a key milestone in SGS’s strategy to diversify services and meet the rising demand for environmental and materials testing.

5. Pace Analytical Services

Pace is one of the key companies in the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market, offering comprehensive testing services for small molecules, biologics, and medical devices. The company specializes in stability studies, dissolution testing, raw material testing, and microbiology services. Pace’s laboratories provide support for early-stage development through commercialization, ensuring product safety and efficacy.

In September 2024, Pace Life Sciences acquired Catalent's Center-of-Excellence for Small Molecule Analytical Services in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. This acquisition expands Pace Life Sciences' service offerings and strengthens its network, enhancing its ability to partner with clients from early-stage drug development through commercialization.

Pace’s expansion aligns with rising demand for consumables and materials required for testing, supported by growth in the lab consumables industry.

6. WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd.

WuXi AppTec is a global contract research organization (CRO) that provides a wide range of analytical testing services for the pharmaceutical industry. Its offerings include method development, bioanalytical testing, elemental impurity analysis, and GMP-compliant quality control. WuXi AppTec helps pharmaceutical companies accelerate drug development with high-quality, reliable analytical data.

7. Labcorp

Labcorp offers a comprehensive suite of analytical testing solutions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, serving the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market. Its services include pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies, bioanalytical testing, and stability assessments. Labcorp’s expertise in clinical trial testing and regulatory compliance helps pharmaceutical companies bring safe and effective drugs to market efficiently.

In August 2025, Labcorp announced the expansion of its cell & gene therapy laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, boosting its analytical and testing capacity for advanced therapy modalities.

8. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

West Pharmaceutical Services is a leading player in the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market, with a focus on analytical testing related to drug packaging and delivery systems. The company provides extractables and leachables testing, container closure integrity testing, and material compatibility studies.

As analytical labs validate testing, they rely on certified analytical standards for data accuracy and compliance. By ensuring the safety and integrity of pharmaceutical packaging, West Pharmaceutical Services plays a vital role in maintaining drug stability and compliance.

9. ICON plc

ICON plc is a global provider of analytical testing and clinical research services for the pharmaceutical industry. The company specializes in bioanalytical testing, biomarker analysis, method validation, and stability studies. ICON’s advanced analytical capabilities help pharmaceutical firms improve drug formulation and ensure product safety throughout the development lifecycle.

10. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is a leading name in the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market, providing high-quality testing solutions for drug development and manufacturing. Its services include impurity testing, mass spectrometry analysis, chromatography, and stability testing.

Thermo Fisher supports pharmaceutical companies with cutting-edge technologies and regulatory expertise to ensure compliance and product reliability. Laboratories across the industry increasingly participate in laboratory proficiency testing to ensure accuracy and regulatory alignment, an area also seeing consistent growth.

In October 2025, Thermo Fisher highlighted its enhanced drug-development capabilities at CPHI Frankfurt, including advanced analytical tools and its OpenAI-powered data strategy to accelerate R&D workflows.

Final Thoughts

The pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market continues to expand as the complexity of drug development increases and regulatory expectations strengthen. Leading service providers are supporting this growth by investing in advanced analytical technologies, enhancing laboratory capacity, and integrating digital quality-management systems. They are also establishing wider geographic networks, improving regulatory compliance frameworks, and developing specialized expertise in both small-molecule and biologic testing.