Spring 2026 Issue 90

gelma.com

Spring 2026

We’re past the Spring equinox, and despite some tempestuous weather, it looks like the world is ready to move on from a gloomy Winter into something bursting with promise. The pharmaceutical technology industry is always evolving, and this issue of IPT is testament to the sector’s push for excellence.

IPT highlights some of the most recent exciting advancements in pharmaceutical manufacturing

DNA Script announced it has signed distribution agreements with Gencell, Bio-Medical Science Co and BioStream Co, expanding global access to the company’s SYNTAX platform for decentralised, in-house and on-demand oligonucleotide production. Under the agreements, Gencell will distribute SYNTAX across Latin America, Bio-Medical Science will cover South Korea and BioStream will support customers in Japan. This expansion supports DNA Script’s strategy to broaden global adoption o

Axplora announced a major milestone in its $60m investment programme in highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredient (HPAPI) manufacturing at its Farmabios site in Gropello Cairoli, Italy. The latest phase includes construction of a new 4,500m², three-storey R&D and lab hub, designed to accelerate development, expand execution capacity and deliver cost-efficient high-potency manufacturing at scale. The new facility will house state-of-the-art R&D labs, quality control labor

Optibrium announced a new quantitative surface-field analysis (QuanSA) plugin for PyMOL, providing an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) for its ligand-based binding affinity prediction method, part of the company’s BioPharmics 3D molecular modelling platform. The new interface facilitates chemists’ access to accurate affinity predictions that guide the design of potent compounds, and reduces the synthesis and testing burden in lead optimisation. QuanSA is a differentia

UCB have announced a new biologics facility in Gwinnett County, GA, US. As innovative medicines reach more patients, the path forward includes expanded manufacturing capacity in the US, with the new biologics facility designed to meet increasing demand and ensure patients receive reliable, timely access to vital treatments. The Georgia facility will complement its global network and strengthen partnerships, including its US-based contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) netw

Capricorn Scientific has expanded its European footprint with a new 4,000m² logistics and infrastructure hub in Ebsdorfergrund, Germany, designed to strengthen supply security, scalability and long-term partnerships in regulated life sciences markets. Strategically located near Marburg and Frankfurt am Main, with fast access to Frankfurt International Airport, the site enables efficient national and global distribution of cell culture products. The expansion is designed to re

As near-infrared imaging advances beyond the NIR-I window, a new generation of NIR-II fluorescent probes is redefining intraoperative visualisation. With improved tissue penetration, reduced scattering and enhanced signal-to-background ratios, these next-generation agents are expanding in vivo applications and opening new perspectives for precision surgery

As targeted modalities proliferate, the ability to quantify ligand, antibody and receptor trafficking into acidic compartments at scale and in near real time is giving teams a far more direct read on drug activity. pH-responsive imaging and sensing approaches are unlocking higher throughput and more physiologically relevant internalisation readouts that bridge discovery, screening and translational workflows, helping to close the long-standing gap between beautiful microscopy

As scientists continue to explore the vast web of life’s molecular setups, it has become increasingly clear that a singular approach, focusing narrowly on genomics, transcriptomics or proteomics, can no longer encompass the full picture of cellular biology. The integration of multi-omics has emerged as a transformative methodology, combining the study of DNA, RNA and protein layers along with metabolites to illuminate the complexities of life at an unprecedented depth.

How is the synthetic design of genetic elements, such as promoters for cell and gene therapies and biologics, improving development and manufacturing?

From target identification and molecular design to process optimisation and quality control, artificial intelligence and machine learning are being positioned as transformative enablers across the pharma landscape. However, as adoption accelerates, it is becoming clear that the impact of these technologies is not determined solely by model sophistication or computational power. Rather, their effectiveness is fundamentally constrained by the availability, quality and structure

How are deliberately structured artificial intelligence ecosystems integrating the tools scientists already rely on, enabling innovation while preserving provenance, governance and confidence across the drug discovery and development life cycle?

How are digital innovations offering a new way of working for contract development and manufacturing organisations?

Early-phase development has always required urgency. Today, that urgency is shaped by a more complex set of pressures than ever before. Competitive intensity, milestone-driven financing structures and expanding regulatory expectations are redefining how biotech and virtual pharma companies approach the earliest stages of development.

How are life sciences organisations embracing new technologies to help develop soft skills, hopefully mitigating issues seen in the pharma manufacturing sector?

The future of aseptic pharmaceutical manufacturing is gloveless, but what might sound like a bold vision is already turning into reality today

Miriam Krechlok from Mettler-Toledo Product Inspection speaks to IPT about advanced contamination detection systems and how these are utilised in pharma manufacturing to ensure seamless and good manufacturing practice-compliant products

What is the value of site-to-lab digitalisation, lab trial management systems, and end-to-end biobanking and specimen life cycle management in improving clinical labs?

https://www.anglonordiclifescience.com

Life sciences labs generate enormous volumes of equipment and environmental data, yet many teams still struggle to translate signals into timely, confident action. Agentic artificial intelligence systems can reason within context, prioritise what matters and recommend next steps, offering a shift from reactive alerting to operational decision support

BioTrinity 14-15 April London, UK bit.ly/4b5Xnrc

www.makingpharma.com

www.carbogen-amcis.com