March/April 2025

COVER

ADC PAYLOADS - Progress in Development of Camptothecin-Based ADC Therapeutics

Paul Moore, PhD, Raffaele Colombo, PhD, and Jamie Rich, PhD, say the recent progress in research on novel camptothecin payloads highlights the potential for developing a new generation of ADCs that can overcome some of the limitations of first-generation therapies.

FEATURES

ADC PAYLOADS - Progress in Development of Camptothecin-Based ADC Therapeutics

Paul Moore, PhD, Raffaele Colombo, PhD, and Jamie Rich, PhD, say the recent progress in research on novel camptothecin payloads highlights the potential for developing a new generation of ADCs that can overcome some of the limitations of first-generation therapies.

SPECIAL FEATURE - Bioavailability & Solubility: The Promise of Novel Ingredients

Contributor Cindy H. Dubin, speaks with several innovating companies to discuss the use of novel excipients as well as other methods and technologies for tackling bioavailability and solubility once and for all.

FORMULATION FORUM - Lymphatic versus Portal Drug Delivery: An Understanding of Drug Oral Absorption & Food Effect

Jim Huang, PhD, and Shaukat Ali, PhD, say the lymphatic system is a distinctive route that is essential for drug transport and delivery of large and lipophilic molecules by alleviating the challenges in penetrating blood capillaries.

TREND SCOUTING - Anticipating the Future of Pharma

Gregor Deutschle says by implementing a strategic, considerate, and proactive approach to trend forecasting, pharmaceutical service providers can effectively weigh the benefits and challenges of potential trends, invest in those most aligned with customer needs, and avoid the allocation of time and resources in trends that will not provide meaningful ROI.

ECO-DESIGN TOOL - How Life Cycle Assessment is Transforming Drug Delivery Device Sustainability

Alex Fong, MBA, believes in an era where sustainability is not just a goal but a necessity, LCA has the potential to reshape how the pharmaceutical industry approaches this multifaceted issue.

DRUG DEVELOPMENT - Improving Bioavailability & Solubility in OSDs

Hibreniguss Terefe, PhD, explores the options available to improve bioavailability and solubility and provides guidance to support decision-making when designing oral formulations for poorly soluble drug candidates in early development.

CELL-FREE GENE SYNTHESIS - Eliminating Critical Bottlenecks in Genetic Medicine Development

Marc Unger explores the market trends, challenges, and opportunities new DNA production technologies provide to accelerate genetic advances in healthcare.

EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW - Lonza: Driving Innovation & Sustainability: CDMO Trends & the Future of ADCs

Sebastian Stenderup, Executive Director, Head of Commercial EMEA, Lonza, discusses some of the trends CDMOs are currently facing, from the growth of ADCs to the importance of sustainability, and how his company is responding to them.

CLINICAL TRIALS - Need for Accessibility to Meet FDA Guidance for Decentralized Trials

Neil Vivian, MSc, says advances in electronic data collection and analysis are helping to make DCTs more accessible to broader and more diverse patient populations. Further innovations, particularly in artificial intelligence technology, are expected to accelerate these trends.

EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW - How Vetter’s Expansion of its Senior Management Team Aligns With Prioritization of Strategic Growth

Vetter’s leadership discusses the company’s vision for strategic restructuring, their insights on Contract Development and Manufacturing trends in 2025, and what this strategic change means for the sustainable growth of the company and its global expansion.

ORAL DOSAGE FORMS - The Future of Oral Dosage: Innovations, Challenges & the Path Forward in 2025

Sébastien Croquet explores the latest industry challenges, cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, and patient needs defining today’s oral delivery methods, and breaks down some of the ways drug producers can ride, or even define, the next wave of oral drug delivery.

RUV CLOSURES - Daikyo PLASCAP® RUV Closures: Securing Annex 1 Compliance Through Contamination-Controlled Closure Innovation

Jim Thompson, MBA, explains how through a long-standing partnership with Daikyo, West can answer multi-faceted vial stoppering and capping challenges with both Crystal Zenith® (CZ) polymer nested vials and PLASCAP® Ready-to-Use Validated (RUV) press-fit closures.