MVIC, Upperton Launch Integrated Drug Development Pathway

Editor’s Take: MVIC and Upperton are creating a single, integrated path from early inhalation drug development through GMP clinical manufacturing, helping sponsors reduce complexity, risk and timelines.

MVIC (Medicon Valley Inhalation Consortium) and Upperton Pharma Solutions have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at providing pharmaceutical and biotech companies with an integrated development pathway spanning early discovery, formulation development, preclinical support, and clinical trial manufacturing.

The partnership combines MVIC’s expertise in inhalation and nasal drug development with Upperton’s capabilities in formulation development, spray drying, sterile manufacturing, process scale-up, and GMP clinical trial supply. The collaboration is designed to offer sponsors a single point of access for scientific, regulatory, and manufacturing support, helping reduce development complexity and accelerate timelines.

Under the arrangement, customers developing inhaled, nasal, and other complex drug products will have access to coordinated project management, scientific oversight, and development services from concept through clinical supply.

“Our ambition is to simplify drug development for our customers by offering a seamless route from discovery and early development through clinical manufacturing,” said Mats Håkansson, CEO of MVIC. “By combining MVIC’s scientific and project management expertise with Upperton’s world-class manufacturing and formulation capabilities, we can provide a highly efficient and coordinated development pathway that helps bring innovative medicines to patients faster.”

Upperton Pharma Solutions will contribute expertise in formulation optimization, spray drying, sterile development and manufacturing, GMP production of clinical trial materials, packaging and labeling, quality systems support, and clinical distribution. These capabilities complement MVIC’s strengths in formulation design, device selection and optimization, preclinical testing, toxicology strategy, regulatory support, and project leadership.

“We are delighted to collaborate with MVIC to create a more integrated offering for pharmaceutical innovators,” said Nikki Whitfield, CEO of Upperton Pharma Solutions. “Together, we can help clients move more efficiently from innovative concepts to clinical evaluation by combining scientific excellence with robust manufacturing expertise.”

The companies said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to supporting pharmaceutical and biotech innovators through specialized development expertise and flexible project execution. By working together from the earliest stages of development, MVIC and Upperton aim to improve knowledge transfer, reduce development risk, and ease the transition into clinical manufacturing and clinical trial activities.