Drugmakers play in contract field. Serveral big-name drug companies have a lesser known business serving their competitors

This article provides an overview of outsourcing services within the pharmaceutical industry. Merck KGaA, Aventis, Pharmacia, Boehringer Ingelheim, Abbott Laboratories, and Schering AG are among a number of drug companies that still produce their own drugs. These companies are also offering their production services to othe drug companies. In contrast, many drug companies have assigned production to third-party companies.