Fireside Chat
Formulation and Delivery
of Spray Dried Biologics
for Oral Dosage Forms.
Thursday 5th February 2026
Session Overview:
In this fireside chat, we’ll start by unpacking the fundamentals of pharmaceutical spray drying – what it is, how it works, and why it’s such a powerful tool in drug product development. From there, we’ll dive into the different types of oral dosage forms, like tablets and capsules, and explore how they fit into the world of biologics.
Next, we’ll tackle the big question: what does it take to spray-dry biologics? We’ll talk through the unique challenges this process presents and highlight the opportunities it opens up for innovation. Finally, we’ll look at how these spray-dried biologics are tested and characterized to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy.
Speakers:
Dr. Richard Johnson
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr Richard Johnson is the Founding Director and Chief Scientific Officer at Upperton Pharma Solutions, a UK-based Contract, Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) and graduated from Warwick University with a PhD Biochemistry. In 1994 he was part of a management buy-out team that founded Andaris Ltd, a research and development company exploiting the use of spray drying technology in the fields of diagnostic imaging and drug delivery. In 1999, Dr Johnson founded Upperton and has overseen significant growth and expansion over the past 25 years, specialising in spray drying and nasal drug development.
Jenny Gill
Senior Development Scientist II
Jenny is a Senior Development Scientist II at Upperton. She holds a BSc in Zoology from the University of Nottingham. With over ten years of experience within CDMOs, Jenny has progressed from Manufacturing Scientist roles to senior roles in formulation development to her current role as a Senior Development Scientist. Jenny applies a science-led approach to support efficient development and manufacturing under GMP.