£1M topical formulation lab expansion investment for MedPharm

Expansion will accommodate new scientists to service the increase in demand for the company's formulation development, performance testing and manufacturing services.

The expansion is to accommodate the new scientists needed to service the increase in demand for its formulation development, performance testing and manufacturing services. This increased capacity will allow MedPharm to extend its service offerings across these key areas of expertise.

The expanded facilities will house MedPharm’s two automated testing services, MedStat-HT and MedFlux-HT, which are designed to de-risk client’s development programs and shorten development timelines.

MedFlux-HTis an automated system of 32 flow-through diffusion cells for measuring the in vitro permeation and penetration of drugs into and through human skin (IVPT). It can also be set up with other tissues determined by the medicine’s target site (e.g., mucosal, buccal, etc). The use of MedFlux-HT has been important in the support of patent claims, substantiation of marketing claims for OTC products, new chemical entity development, and development of generic products.

MedStat-HT is an automated system of 24 vertical diffusion cells (VDC) more commonly known as ‘Franz’ or ‘static’ cells for measuring the in vitro release of drug from topical medicines across synthetic membranes (IVRT). Its key benefits are its ability to better characterise formulation drug release properties for potential patent claim support, formulation optimisation and comparison, and potential product quality and stability specifications, with a reduction in experimental time and variability.

“We are very pleased to announce this investment which reflects the trust an increasing number of clients are placing in our services,” commented Dr Andrew Muddle, MedPharm’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.

“Our focus on the development topical and transdermal medicines which can benefit developers of new chemical entities, generics or OTC products alike is attracting ever-increasing interest and this expansion will accommodate the demand for our services in the coming years”.