Why Spray Drying Is Gaining Attention As A Biologics Lifecycle Management Strategy

By Dr Richard Johnson, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder, Upperton

The pharmaceutical industry faces an impending $300 billion patent cliff by 2030, putting significant revenue at risk. Reformulating existing blockbusters offers a strategic avenue to extend exclusivity, differentiate products, and generate fresh intellectual property. Spray drying is emerging as a critical formulation technology in lifecycle management. By engineering dry powders optimized for alternative delivery routes—such as pulmonary, nasal, or ultra-high-concentration subcutaneous suspensions—companies can transition away from traditional intravenous administration.

Beyond improving patient convenience, spray drying creates clear differentiation from original formulations. Accessing integrated development models that unify formulation science, specialized spray drying, and rigorous analytical characterization enables developers to efficiently de-risk programs and establish scalable, next-generation delivery platforms.