Beyond Pills: The Rise Of Liquid Suspensions For Complex Formulations

By Gus LaBella, Director of Formulation Development

As drug developers pursue innovative, patient-centric therapies for pediatric and geriatric populations — as well as patients with dysphagia — liquid suspensions have emerged as an increasingly preferred dosage form. While these formulations offer clear advantages over tablets, capsules, and traditional liquid solutions, their complex formulation and manufacturing requirements present significant technical challenges.

Meeting growing demand requires CDMO partners with deep expertise and specialized infrastructure to accelerate development while ensuring quality and scalability. In response, Mikart has strengthened its liquid suspension capabilities, including the addition of a new state-of-the-art production suite, positioning the company as an ideal outsourcing partner from R&D through commercialization.

In this exclusive thought leadership piece, Gus LaBella, Director of Formulation Development at Mikart, shares critical insights into successful liquid suspension development — covering the unique characteristics of suspensions, the use of novel ion exchange technologies, experience with difficult-to-formulate products, and the importance of dedicated development, manufacturing, and production facilities to support efficient, reliable outcomes.