Bespak and Upperton Partner on Nasal Drug Delivery

Editor’s Take: As interest in nasal delivery grows, developers face the challenge of aligning formulation, device and manufacturing suppliers throughout development. This collaboration addresses market need for integrated nasal drug-device product development and commercialization.

Bespak, a specialist contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for inhaled and nasal drug delivery, and Upperton, a CDMO with specialist formulation development expertise, have entered a strategic collaboration to provide an integrated pathway for the development and manufacture of nasal drug-device combination products using Bespak’s expanded proprietary device portfolio.

The collaboration extends Bespak’s nasal capabilities by bringing together its expertise in nasal device design, development engineering, industrialization and commercial supply with Upperton’s formulation development, analytical and clinical manufacturing capabilities. Together, the companies aim to provide a more seamless route from early opportunity assessment and formulation-device development through to clinical supply, scale-up and commercial manufacture.

The new combined offering will support liquid, soft mist and dry powder formulations across Bespak’s newly expanded proprietary single and multi-dose nasal device portfolio. By bringing formulation and device expertise together earlier, the companies aim to reduce development complexity, improve efficiency and accelerate customers’ progress of nasal drug products towards the clinic and into commercial supply.

Chris Hirst, CEO of Bespak, said, “Our collaboration with Upperton adds highly complementary formulation and analytical expertise to our expanded nasal device portfolio, giving customers a more integrated development pathway. By considering the formulation and device as one combination product from an early stage, we can help customers navigate development more efficiently and build a stronger foundation for clinical and commercial success.”

Nikki Whitfield, CEO of Upperton, said, “By combining Upperton’s formulation, analytical and clinical manufacturing expertise with Bespak’s device engineering and commercialization capabilities, we can provide customers with coordinated support across the development journey.”