Upperton, is a UK-based CDMO providing integrated contract development and manufacturing services. Specialising in oral, nasal and pulmonary dosage forms, Upperton offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support the progression of a molecule from early feasibility through to formulation development, clinical and commercial manufacture.

With over 25 years of industry experience, Upperton excels in rapid product introductions, achieving the transition from in as little as 4-6 weeks.

• Our project delivery is unparalleled and designed specifically to align with the
  values and innovation of small to mid-sized pharma companies.
• We are flexible and nimble, enabling rapid decision making, problem-solving, collaboration, and product introduction within 4-6 weeks.
• With subject matter experts and leadership team oversight on every project, you can trust our project delivery and expertise that covers all layers of our operations.
• Our science-led approach drives two-way open dialogue and transparency.
• We have proven expertise in the development, scale-up, manufacturing and testing of oral, pulmonary and nasal drug products.
• For small molecules and biologics, our clinical manufacturing process trains support batch sizes from grams to kilograms.

Integrated CDMO services

• Formulation development
• Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical supply
• Process scale-up and optimisation
• Registration activities
• Analytical development and validation

Contract development and manufacturing

Upperton’s science-led approach is supported by expertise at every stage of the development process. The leadership team bring a wealth of experience in guiding products from initial development through to commercial production. The team’s commitment to quality and innovation has been recognized through numerous awards, such as the King's Award for Enterprise 2023 and Pharma Industry Awards UK – large project winner.

Upperton’s mission is to develop and manufacture high-quality drug products while fostering strong client relationships. Upperton offers a variety of services, including formulation development, clinical supply from Phase 1 to Phase 3, process scale-up, registration activities, and analytical development and validation.

Capabilities at a glance

• 10 state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing suites
• Up to 1,000,000 tabletting capacity per day
• 500g – 205kg blending capacity
• Up to 2,000 blister packaging units per day
• Up to 5kg tablet coating per batch
• Up to 350,000 capsule filling (powder) capacity per day
• Up to 1000kg granulation capacity per day
• 0.5g - 10kg spray drying batch sizes (aqueous and solvent)
• 20 litres solution preparation vessels capacity with overhead mixing

Development, QC and Analytical, and Manufacturing Facility

Upperton operates a state-of-the-art 50,000 sqft development and manufacturing facility, Trent Gateway, in Nottingham, United Kingdom. Trent Gateway features 10 individual GMP manufacturing suites, quality control laboratories, and dedicated spaces for analytical and formulation development.

These facilities are equipped to process a variety of non-sterile dosage forms, including solids, liquids, semi-solids, and both nasal and inhaled products.

The Trent Gateway facility supports a range of project requirements, from early formulation development to clinical trial supply and niche-scale commercial manufacturing. The research and development area spans 10,000 square feet, featuring laboratories for dosage form development, pilot plants for potent processing, and a dedicated analytical team. The GMP manufacturing suites are designed to support oral, pulmonary, and nasal dosage forms, with capabilities for sterile processing and high-potency containment. Quality control is maintained through 8,000 square feet of analytical laboratories, which are equipped with advanced technology for ensuring product quality.

The facility’s design and capabilities make it well-suited to handle complex project needs across various stages of product development.

Experts in oral, nasal and pulmonary dosage forms

Upperton offers expertise in developing a range of small molecule and biologics dosage forms, providing support from early feasibility studies through to clinical manufacture.

• Oral Dosage Forms: Upperton specialises in the development of both simple and complex oral dosage forms, including powders, capsules, and tablets.
  • Tablets ( IR, MR, SR, Minitabs)
  • Capsules (API, powder blend, lipid)

• Nasal Delivery: The UpperNose™ approach, streamlines and accelerates the process of developing nasal dosage forms, making it more accessible to small and mid-sized innovators. UpperNose™ supports both liquid and dry powder formulations.

• Pulmonary Delivery: Upperton specialises in the development of pulmonary drug products through expertise in formulation development, particle engineering and device selection. Upperton offers both dry powder and liquid formulation options, addressing factors such as solubility, stability, and target dose delivery.

Integrated CDMO services – from pre-clinical to market

Upperton caters to an array of drug development needs, from pre-clinical stages through to late-phase development and commercial manufacturing. Upperton’s services are tailored to meet the unique challenges of each project.

These include feasibility studies to optimize spray drying parameters, formulation development to ensure efficient API delivery, stability studies to verify storage conditions, and scale-up studies to prepare for GMP manufacturing.

Upperton’s analytical capabilities play a vital role in ensuring that products transition smoothly from development to clinical trials.

Benefit from a science-led and structured approach that supports a seamless progression through the development pathway.

Science-led approach driving unparalleled project delivery

Upperton tailors projects to fit specific client timelines and requirements, prioritising effective communication and collaboration in project delivery. Each project is assigned a project manager who coordinates all activities and ensures that transparency is maintained through regular updates.

Project teams at Upperton are composed of experts from various disciplines, including development, GMP, analytical, QA, and technical transfer. The inclusion of an Executive Leadership Team member in every project, ensures that decisions are made under expert guidance.