Product

Development

Integrated Product Development for Complex Drug
Products and Combination Systems — delivering the formulation expertise needed to advance drug products from pre-clinical development through clinical evaluation and regulatory submission.

SmaBio Labs provides product development support for complex and conventional dosage forms, including ophthalmic products, long-acting
injectables, transdermal systems, microneedles, drug-device
combination products, and standard formulations. Our scientists work as an extension of our partners' teams to design and optimize formulations aligned with defined development objectives. Through a collaborative, science-driven approach, we help partners navigate development challenges and generate the data and understanding needed to advance programs toward clinical success and support efficient regulatory submissions.

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QBD DRIVEN PRODUCT Development Pathway

Pre-Formulation & Compatability

Proof-of-Concept Batches

Lead Identification & Optimization

Process Optimization & Scale-Up

Stability Studies

CTM Manufacturing

Building a Strong Foundation for Product Development

Designing Formulations for Success

Pre-Formulation: Physicochemical Analysis

Comprehensive evaluation of physicochemical properties: polymorphism, crystallinity, particle size, solubility across pH, hygroscopicity, bulk/tapped density, flow, and compatibility with excipients.

Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Batches

Define the final product’s desired characteristics, Quality Target Product Profile (QTTP) and performance criteria, Critical Quality Attribute (CQA).

Establish success criteria: quality, safety, stability, bioavailability, and efficacy.

Source high-quality raw materials (based on Critical Material Attributes (CMA) of APIs and excipients) that influence final product quality.
Identify the processing framework: through DoE equipment,, temperature, pressure, mixing speed, and timelines.
Evaluate PoC performance across safety, stability, bioavailability, and efficacy.
Present case studies with scalability protocols, key pain points, and mitigation strategies or alternatives.

Manufacture prototype batches to validate PoC insights and ensure regulatory readiness.

Lead formulation optimization

Identify one or two lead formulation from POC that meets predefined QTTP and CQA’s
Integrity: Establish safety and stability per formulation design.
Quality: Assess drug release, assay, content uniformity, and bioavailability.
Define excipient selection and ratio ranges (DoE as needed) to deliver robust performance and scale-up feasibility.
Stability: Conduct long-term and accelerated studies to confirm shelf life.
Packaging: selection of primary and secondary packaging materials

Process Optimization (Lab Scale)

A systematic DoE- and QbD-based approach is used to refine and control manufacturing processes.
Mapping unit operations across the full process flow
Identifying Critical Process Parameters (CPPs) that have a direct impact on CQAs
Defining Process Analytical Requirements (PARs) to monitor and control CPPs
Establishing process boundaries, operating ranges, and interactions
Linking material attributes, process parameters, and CQAs through scientific rationale

Packaging Material Selection

Evaluation of moisture, oxygen, light barriers; migration, leachable, seal integrity, physical strength, compatibility with formulation. Includes accelerated and real-time validation studies.

Preclinical and Clinical Trial Material Manufacturing

GMP-compliant CTM for Phase I–II. Manufactured in ISO-8 cleanrooms. Includes analytical validation, warehouse control, and support for IND, NDA, ANDA, 505(b)(2) filings.

Compatibility Studies

Conducted during pre-formulation to identify and mitigate interactions impacting safety,
stability, efficacy, or manufacturability.

Benefits:

Accelerating formulation by eliminating incompatible excipients early.
Enhancing product safety, stability, and shelf life.
Ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Possible incompatibilities:

Physical: color change, eutectic formation, phase separation.
Chemical: hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, precipitation, decarboxylation, racemization.
Thermal: interactions caused by heat during processing.

Common methods used:

Thermal studies: DSC, TGA.
Spectral methods: FTIR, X-Ray Diffraction.
Chromatography: HPLC.
Rheological: viscosity, flow properties.

Lead Formulation Identification

Develops optimal process parameters, identifies stability risks, and defines packaging/storage controls.
Scalability: Confirm formulation works at large-scale production.
Process: Define equipment and parameters, simulate scale-up, and ensure transferability. Establishes scientifically justified shelf life for compliance and market readiness.
Use systematic risk assessment and stress conditions to reveal stability issues on scale up batches.
Apply mitigation strategies to ensure reliable performance across ICH climatic zones.

Process Identification

Mapping process steps across dosage forms: blending, granulation, drying, milling, compression, coating (solid orals); homogenization, sterilization (liquids); aseptic fill/lyo (sterile product) Transdermal patches (coating, drying and converting), CPPs identified and optimized.

Stability Studies

Identifies degradation risks and confirms shelf life.
ICH-compliant stability protocols across Zones I–IVb. Includes accelerated (40/75), long-term (25/60) and Intermediate (30/65) and photostability testing.

Process Optimization & Scale-Up

Pilot and engineering batches are executed to support scale-up and confirm process reproducibility. Critical Process Parameters (CPPs) and Process Attribute Ranges (PARs) are identified and challenged to evaluate process sensitivity under scale-relevant conditions.
Potential bottlenecks, operational inefficiencies, and process stress points (e.g., mixing, heat transfer, hold times, filtration, and transfer steps) are systematically assessed and mitigated.
Process validation activities are performed with defined in-process controls and monitoring strategies to demonstrate process robustness, consistency, and readiness for commercial manufacturing and market supply.

SPECIALISED SERVICES

Clinical Labelling

Blinded/unblinded labels, multi-language booklet, tamper-evident, QR/e-labels for clinical trials.

HPAPI & Potent API Handling

Specialized containment, FFU/HEPA, safe handling SOPs, hormones/ steroids expertise, and analytical validation.

Aliquoting (cGMP)

APIs, excipients, biologics aliquoted under cGMP. Traceable, secure, labeled, and logged for clinical supply.

Sterile Product Development

Aseptic fill-finish of vials/ syringes/ cartridges. Includes lyo cycle development, sterility, endotoxin, ICH stability, and regulatory CMC support.

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Formulation Across Every Route of Administration

- Dosage Form Narratives

Transdermal drug delivery (Matrix Patches)

Transdermal patch development demands precision—from drug selection to skin compatibility. At SmaBio Labs, we turn complexity into patient-friendly, stable, and scalable solutions.
Overcome skin’s natural barrier while ensuring stability and patient comfort.
Select drugs with optimal properties: low molecular weight, lipophilicity, and potency.
Design matrix polymers, adhesives, and enhancers for consistent drug release.
Minimize risks of skin irritation and sensitization, even with long-term use.
Expertise in excipient screening, in-vitro permeation, and stability optimization.
End-to-end support for safe, scalable, and patient-friendly transdermal patch development.

Ophthalmic Formulations (Eye Drops, Ointments, Gels)

Transdermal patch development demands precision—from drug selection to skin compatibility. At SmaBio Labs, we turn complexity into patient-friendly, stable, and scalable solutions.
Overcome skin’s natural barrier while ensuring stability and patient comfort.
Select drugs with optimal properties: low molecular weight, lipophilicity, and potency.
Design matrix polymers, adhesives, and enhancers for consistent drug release.
Minimize risks of skin irritation and sensitization, even with long-term use.
Expertise in excipient screening, in-vitro permeation, and stability optimization.
End-to-end support for safe, scalable, and patient-friendly transdermal patch development.

Injectables

Solutions, suspensions, emulsions, lyophilized products. Requires sterility, solubility optimization, stability, endotoxin/pH/osmolality control. Includes aseptic processing, container closure compatibility, regulatory support.

Liquid Oral Formulations (Solutions, Suspensions, Syrups)

Designed to be stable, palatable, and bioavailable for pediatric, geriatric, and specialty care.
Address challenges of solubility, stability, and dispersion with optimized solvents and rheology modifiers.
Use taste-masking systems (flavors, sweeteners) for patient compliance.
Include preservative systems and ICH stability testing for microbial safety and shelf life.
End-to-end services: solubility screening, preservative efficacy, regulatory-ready development.

Otic Formulations (Ear Drops, Suspensions, Emulsions)

Focus on local efficacy, patient comfort, and long-term stability.
Optimize solubility, surfactants, and pH buffers for chemical integrity.
Use particle size and viscosity tuning for uniform dosing and retention.
Incorporate robust preservative systems for microbial safety.
Design for minimal irritation and sensory tolerance.
Services: pre-formulation, in-vitro testing, ICH stability, regulatory documentation.

Topical Formulations (Creams, Gels, Ointments)

Balance of efficacy, texture, absorption, and skin safety.
Use emulsifiers, gelling agents, and penetration enhancers for optimal performance.
Ensure stability and non-irritancy through rigorous testing.
APIs must reach the target skin layer while maintaining potency and avoiding degradation.
Optimize texture, spreadability, absorption, and release via careful excipient selection.
SmaBio Labs delivers stable, patient-friendly formulations from concept to commercial readiness.

Oral Film Formulations (Fast Dissolving Films)

Require precision in drug loading, taste masking, and rapid disintegration.
Ensure uniform API distribution in a thin, flexible polymer matrix.
Optimize taste, mouthfeel, and compliance with flavoring agents, sweeteners, and plasticizers.
Maintain consistent thickness, tensile strength, and content uniformity across batches.
Designed for pediatric and geriatric populations needing easy administration.
Supported by excipient screening, solvent casting, dissolution profiling, and regulatory documentation.
SmaBio Labs delivers safe, stable, scalable, and patient-friendly film solutions.

Solid Oral Formulations (Tablets, Capsules, Powders, Pellets)

Require precision in release design, bioavailability, and manufacturability.
Immediate-release: ensure rapid dissolution with excipient optimization, disintegration enhancers, and taste masking.
Sustained/Delayed/Controlled-release: involve polymer selection, matrix/coating technologies, and release kinetics.

Medical Food / Nutraceuticals

Develop low-nitrogen, protein-restricted, and keto-acid enriched formulations.
Balance nutritional needs, palatability, and stability for CKD patients.
Address challenges of GI tolerance, electrolyte balance, and metabolism.
Ensure compliance with stringent medical food regulations.
Deliver effective, safe, and compliant nutrition products tailored to kidney health.

Otic Formulations (Ear Drops, Suspensions, Emulsions)

Tailored to species-specific dosing, palatability, and absorption.
Formats include oral, injectable, topical, intramammary, and pour-ons.
Ensure stability under field-use environmental conditions.
Comply with regulatory requirements for companion and food-producing animals (withdrawal, residue limits).
Expertise in taste masking, controlled release, and global compliance.
Deliver safe, effective, and commercially viable veterinary products.