Introduction
As the biopharmaceutical industry accelerates toward increasingly complex and innovative therapies, the ability to build agile, resilient, and globally integrated supply chains has never been more critical. Leaders at the forefront of this transformation are not only enabling scientific breakthroughs—but ensuring those innovations reach patients safely, reliably, and at scale.
One such leader is Sheena Behn, who oversees global supply for vaccines, immune therapies, and oncology portfolios at AstraZeneca. Their global manufacturing and supply network spans 15 countries and supports the delivery of life-changing medicines worldwide, ranging from next-generation biologics to antibody-drug conjugates to advanced cell therapies.
Her team is responsible for designing and executing global supply strategies that ensure new medicines are successfully launched while maintaining continuity and resilience across existing portfolios. With more than 30 years of experience at AstraZeneca, Sheena brings a deep understanding of how supply chains must evolve to meet the demands of increasingly complex science. As she reflects on her career, she emphasizes that there has never been a more exciting time to be in healthcare—or at AstraZeneca—where the organization is at the forefront of reimagining AI-enabled supply chains. This dual momentum is enabling the company to drive even greater impact, delivering breakthrough therapies to patients around the world with increased speed, precision, and scale.
At the upcoming American Biomanufacturing Summit, taking place April 14–15, 2026, in San Francisco, CA, Sheena will lead a session titled “Scaling Supply Chains for Advanced Therapies to Meet Global Patient Needs”. Ahead of the summit, we had the opportunity to gain her insights on supply chain innovation, emerging risks, and the future of global biomanufacturing.
As VP of Vaccine and Immune Therapy and Oncology Global Supply, you operate at the intersection of innovation and patient access — how do you define success in a role of this scale and impact?
Success means ensuring that scientific breakthroughs become real-world treatments safely, reliably, and at the speed patients deserve.
For me, success looks like:
Ultimately, we define success through the patients we reach — and the consistency with which we deliver for them.
What is uniquely challenging about supplying advanced therapies compared to traditional pharmaceutical products?
At AstraZeneca, we are investing heavily in this future: from end-to-end ADC manufacturing in Singapore, to our next-generation cell therapy site in Rockville, US, to a new multimodal drug-substance facility in Virginia, US.
In relation to your session and the future of global supply, what risks should the industry be addressing more urgently?
There are several systemic risks the industry must address collectively:
1. Increasing portfolio complexity
The pipeline across our sector is shifting toward different modalities, including antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), cell therapies, mRNA, engineered viruses, and gene-modifying medicines. Many supply chains were not originally designed for this level of scientific complexity, and these new modalities are also typically lower volumes.
2. Geopolitical and economic volatility
Global fragmentation, trade barriers, and shifting market dynamics challenge single-source or regionally concentrated manufacturing models.
3. Skills and digital workforce readiness
Advanced therapy supply requires new skills - from AI fluency to biologics engineering to complex data analytics - and the industry must accelerate talent development.
4. Climate and nature-related risks
Extreme weather events, water scarcity, and sustainability expectations pose real operational risks for a global footprint.
5. Data and cybersecurity risks
As we build autonomous, AI-enabled supply chains, resilience must include cyber resilience.
The companies that address these challenges early by building diversified networks, investing in digital and AI, and embedding sustainability end-to-end will lead the next decade of biomanufacturing.
What do you hope attendees will walk away rethinking about supply chain strategy after your session at the American Biomanufacturing Summit?
I hope attendees walk away inspired to reimagine manufacturing and supply chains through:
If attendees leave rethinking their supply chain not as a cost center but as a source of competitive advantage - one that accelerates science, expands access, builds in resilience, and strengthens sustainability - then the conversation will have been worthwhile.
Conclusion
Sheena Behn’s perspective highlights a critical shift underway in biomanufacturing—where supply chains are no longer just operational backbones, but strategic enablers of innovation, access, and long-term resilience. As therapies become more advanced and personalized, the need for flexible, digitally enabled, and globally integrated supply networks will only intensify.
Her upcoming session, “Scaling Supply Chains for Advanced Therapies to Meet Global Patient Needs” will offer attendees a valuable opportunity to explore how leading organizations are navigating this complexity while delivering meaningful impact for patients worldwide.
With the American Biomanufacturing Summit fast approaching and registration closing soon, now is the time to secure your place alongside industry leaders shaping the future of biopharma.
Join us in San Francisco this month to gain firsthand insights from Sheena and be part of the conversations driving the next era of global supply innovation.
Learn more about our upcoming 2026 North American events, and secure your spot today:
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