MVIC (Medicon Valley Inhalation Consortium) and Upperton Pharma Solutions have formed a strategic collaboration aimed at simplifying the path from early drug development to clinical trial manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The partnership brings together MVIC’s expertise in inhaled and nasal drug development with Upperton’s capabilities in formulation development, spray drying, sterile manufacturing, process scale-up and good manufacturing practice (GMP) production of clinical trial materials.

The companies intend to provide an integrated service spanning formulation design, preclinical support and clinical manufacturing. The combined offering is particularly relevant to developers of inhaled and nasal medicines, as well as other complex drug products that require specialized formulation approaches and manufacturing processes. By coordinating development activities across both organizations, the partners aim to improve knowledge transfer, reduce project complexity and help clients progress candidates toward clinical evaluation with fewer handoffs between service providers.

“Our ambition is to simplify drug development for our customers by offering a seamless route from discovery and early development through clinical manufacturing,” says Mats Håkansson, CEO of MVIC. He adds that combining the organizations’ scientific, project management and manufacturing capabilities would create a more coordinated development pathway.

Under the collaboration, MVIC will contribute formulation design, inhalation device selection and optimization, preclinical testing, toxicology strategy, regulatory support and project leadership. Upperton will provide formulation optimization, spray drying, sterile development and manufacturing, process scale-up, GMP clinical production, packaging and labeling, quality systems support, and distribution for clinical studies. The arrangement is designed to connect these activities within a more coordinated development framework, potentially helping developers address technical and operational challenges earlier in the process. For complex drug products, aligning formulation decisions with manufacturing requirements can be an important consideration as programs advance toward clinical supply.

“We are delighted to collaborate with MVIC to create a more integrated offering for pharmaceutical innovators,” says Nikki Whitfield, CEO of Upperton Pharma Solutions. She says the partnership would combine scientific expertise with manufacturing capabilities to help clients move from early concepts to clinical evaluation more efficiently.

The collaboration reflects a broader need among pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for specialized development partners that can support complex formulations while facilitating the transition from preclinical work to clinical manufacturing. The companies said they intend to work together from the earliest stages of development, with the goal of improving coordination, managing development risks and enabling a smoother progression into clinical production.

For more information, visit www.upperton.com.