Fireside Chat
Formulation and Delivery
of Spray Dried Biologics.
Choose from four sessions across oral solids,
nasal, pulmonary and injectable dosage forms.
Thursday 5th February 2026
10am ET / 3pm GMT
Session Overview:
Join our panel of experts for a series of talks about the formulation and delivery of spray-dried biologics across oral solids, nasal, pulmonary and injectable (high concentration and encapsulated biologics) dosage forms.
With four different 30-minute sessions, discover the benefits and applications of spray drying in the development and manufacture of biologics.
What to expect
- Advantages and key features of pharmaceutical spray drying
- Applications across oral, nasal, pulmonary and injectable dosage forms
- Typical excipients for spray dried biologics
- Development process and timelines for spray drying biologics including formulation development, small scale batches and testing
- What spray drying capabilities and expertise to look for in CDMO selection
Choose from the sessions below dedicated to specific dosage forms.
Oral Solids - Fireside Chat
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.
Jack Sorrell, Development Manager
Jack Sorrell has over 10 years of experience and is a Development Manager in the Research & Development department at Upperton. He has extensive experience in the production of powder drug formulations using spray drying methods. Jack holds a First Class Honours in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.
Nasal - Fireside Chat
Discover how spray drying is shaping the future of nasal delivery for biologics. In this fireside chat, we’ll explore the science behind spray drying, why the nasal route is such a compelling option for rapid, non-invasive delivery, and the practical steps to get from concept to clinic.
We’ll start by discussing pharmaceutical spray drying, what it is, how it works, and why it’s a proven platform for stabilising sensitive molecules. Then we’ll dive into nasal dosage forms and talk about when (and why) the nose beats other routes for biologics.
Next, we’ll talk about spray-drying biologics for nasal delivery. How do we balance particle size and morphology, for optimal nasal deposition?
Finally, we’ll walk through testing and characterization: and discuss device/formulation compatibility.
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.
Lara Penn, Senior Development Scientist II
Lara Penn is a Senior Development Scientist II at Upperton Pharma Solutions in Nottingham. She holds a BSc in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Leicester. With over five years of experience, Lara has progressed from Quality Control Scientist to senior roles in formulation and project development. She specialises in analytical testing, method validation, and formulation development of oral solid dosage forms. Lara applies a science-led approach to support efficient development and manufacturing under GMP. She is skilled in HPLC, UV-Vis, FTIR, dissolution testing, and preparing technical documentation and SOPs.
Pulmonary - Fireside Chat
Join us for an insightful conversation on how spray drying is enabling the development of biologics for pulmonary delivery. This session will explore the science behind spray drying, its role in creating inhalable formulations, and the unique challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving space.
We’ll kick things off by looking at the fundamentals of pharmaceutical spray drying, how the process works, and why it’s so widely used in drug product development. From there, we’ll dive into pulmonary dosage forms, such as dry powder inhalers and soft mist formulations, and discuss what makes them ideal for certain biologics.
Next, we’ll explore the complexities of spray-drying biologics for inhalation. How do we maintain stability and ensure the right particle size for deep lung delivery? What hurdles do formulators face, and what strategies are emerging to overcome them? Finally, we’ll talk about testing and characterization including how do we confirm that these spray-dried biologics are safe, effective, and ready for clinical use?
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.
Shailesh Mistry, Development Manager
Shailesh is an experienced pharmaceutical scientist specialising in drug formulation and delivery systems focusing on orally inhaled and nasal drug products (OINDPs), spray drying, amorphous solid dispersions, and particle engineering. His expertise spans analytical chemistry, device technologies, and packaging solutions. With over two decades in the industry, Shailesh has held senior roles at a variety of pharmaceutical companies building a strong foundation in analytical and inhalation sciences. Shailesh holds a BSc (Hons) in Medical Science from the University of Birmingham and is recognised for his technical leadership and problem-solving in pharmaceutical formulation.
Injectables - Fireside Chat
Session Overview:
Injectable biologics are the backbone of modern therapeutics, but as molecules become more complex and doses increase, formulation challenges multiply. In this fireside chat, we’ll explore how spray drying is enabling high-concentration injectable biologics and encapsulated systems that improve stability, reduce viscosity, and enhance patient experience.
We’ll begin by looking at the fundamentals of spray drying and why it’s emerging as a powerful tool for injectable formulations. Then, we’ll dive into the unique challenges of high-concentration biologics and how spray drying can help create stable, concentrated powders that reconstitute easily for injection.
Next, we’ll explore encapsulation strategies for biologics. How can spray drying be used to create protective matrices or controlled-release particles for injectable delivery?
Finally, we’ll cover testing and characterization from reconstitution performance and particle morphology to stability studies and potency assays, ensuring these advanced formulations meet stringent quality and regulatory requirements.
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.
Dr. Jordan Potts, Senior Development Scientist I
Jordan is a Senior Development Scientist I at Upperton. He holds an integrated Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences from Leeds Beckett University, alongside a PhD, Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Nottingham. With over five years of experience within CDMOs, Jordan has progressed from a Development Scientist role to Senior Development Scientist at Upperton, working in the Research & Development team. Jordan applies a science-led approach to support efficient development across a large range of pharmaceutical and analytical techniques.