Drug Delivery Design and Development

Accelerating Drug Delivery Device Development for Pharma and Device Companies

We are an award winning medical product development consultancy that works with pharmaceutical and device teams to solve their complex engineering challenges, helping to select and develop effective drug delivery devices, from parenteral systems for complex biologics, to precision devices for targeted therapies.

With over 25 years of medical device experience, we combine science, engineering, human-centered design and manufacturing expertise to solve delivery challenges, reduce technical uncertainty and accelerate programs.

We work with device teams at the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, where our work spans technology landscaping, technical due diligence on drug delivery systems, roadmapping, and device development. Our expertise covers parenteral high-viscosity and high volume formulations, and emerging precision delivery devices, where we define requirements, develop devices and build evidence to support milestones including first-in-human clinical trials.

Technology landscaping and due diligence

Make informed choices about your delivery technology.

We assess available systems against your formulation, intended use and development priorities. Technology landscaping identifies suitable options, while technical due diligence examines platform performance, supplier evidence and development risks, weighing these against the commercial opportunity.

Our findings inform device selection and a clear development roadmap.

Map and compare available technologies.
Assess performance and formulation compatibility.
Identify evidence gaps and technical risks.
Recommend testing and development priorities.

We identify technical risks and shape development roadmaps.

Human factors and user-centered design

Design for the people using your device.

We study how patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals interact with drug delivery devices. User research informs requirements and design decisions, while usability testing identifies difficulties and use-related risks throughout development.

Our findings guide improvements from preparation through to disposal.

Understand users and environments of use.
Define requirements through user research.
Evaluate usability and use-related risks.
Refine designs through feedback and testing.

We ensure safety and optimal user experience through usability and stakeholder studies.

Precision delivery for complex therapies

Connect your therapy’s delivery needs with the right technology, device requirements and testing strategy.

Our CNS specialists assess delivery options for therapies requiring targeted administration, including cell and gene therapies. We consider anatomy, route of administration and clinical workflow to translate therapeutic needs into practical development requirements.

We combine computational and tissue-based modeling with engineering and physical testing to investigate delivery performance and distribution. This work identifies evidence gaps, guides device development and builds a verification strategy to support progression toward the clinic.

CNS Drug Delivery

Parenteral delivery for complex therapies

Develop devices around your formulation and the people using them.

Our experience spans autoinjectors, on-body delivery systems and infusion pumps, including challenges involving high-viscosity biologics, high-volume doses and two-component therapies.

We combine engineering and user-centered design to assess delivery performance, preparation steps and manufacturing requirements. The findings guide technology selection and device development.

Our expertise also extends to specialized routes of administration, including our collaboration with Re-Vana Therapeutics on a novel delivery system for sustained-release ophthalmic formulations.

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Drug Delivery Development: From Strategy to Clinical Manufacture

Insights & Strategy

Patient and healthcare professional research to define user needs, guide device requirements and shape development roadmaps.

Due Diligence & Feasibility

Technology landscaping, technical due diligence and feasibility testing to assess delivery options, platform suitability and development risks.

Device Design & Engineering

Delivery device design, prototyping and testing, combining mechanical, electronic and software engineering, including connected systems.

Packaging & Sustainability

User-centered device and packaging design, applying materials science and sustainability expertise to address usability and environmental impact.

Design Verification

Test method development and in-house verification testing to demonstrate device performance against requirements for clinical and commercial use.

Human Factors & Usability

Formative usability evaluations and summative human factors study design and facilitation to assess device use and inform development.

Clinical Manufacturing

In-house pilot manufacturing for clinical trials, supplier management, process development and transfer to your manufacturing partners.

Quality & Regulatory

Design controls, risk management and technical documentation, supported by regulatory expertise and ISO 13485 certified quality management system.

Who are CDP's clients for drug delivery development?

We work with pharmaceutical, biotech, CDMO and medical device teams developing therapies and delivery systems. Our projects range from standalone technology assessments to integrated device development programs, bringing together engineering, clinical, human factors, and manufacturing expertise.

What types of drug delivery devices does CDP develop?

Our experience includes autoinjectors, pen injectors, inhalation, on-body delivery systems, and infusion pumps, alongside specialized systems for ocular and precision delivery. We work on challenges involving high-viscosity formulations, high-volume doses and sensitive active ingredients.

Can CDP independently assess existing drug delivery platforms?

Yes. We provide technology landscaping, assessment and technical due diligence to inform platform selection. We review available evidence against your formulation, delivery requirements and development priorities, identifying limitations and evidence gaps. With specialist in-house testing and verification capability, we can lead on further testing needs to generate the data to support decision making.

Can we work with CDP on just one development stage?

Yes. We support standalone assessments and individual development stages, as well as integrated programs. Projects can focus on a specific need, such as feasibility testing, human factors, device engineering or pilot manufacturing for clinical trials.

What areas of drug delivery does CDP specialize in?

We specialize in developing devices for complex delivery challenges, including parenteral systems for high-viscosity biologics, high-volume doses and two-component therapies, and precision delivery systems for targeted therapies, including cell and gene therapies. Our expertise combines formulation and device assessment, engineering, human factors and testing, with dedicated specialists in CNS delivery.

Case Studies

Multi-application sensor platform to analyze patient behaviour

Drug delivery devices can be notoriously tricky to use, so our technology enables improved studies that can distinguish use error from drug performance. This allows developers to focus investment correctly, reduce costs and accelerate a new treatment’s journey to market.

Case Studies

Therapy assistant for parenteral drugs

Patients suffering from chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis often follow a complicated treatment regimen at home. They sometimes need to store their drugs in the fridge, warm them up to the correct temperature for injection, prepare their auto-injector for use and finally dispose of the used device safely.

Defining Your Device Development Priorities

We work with your team to connect therapy requirements, user needs and commercial priorities with a practical development plan. Whether you are selecting a platform or developing a new delivery system, we identify the questions, risks and evidence needs that matter for your next milestone.

Integrated Design, Prototyping and Testing

Our designers, engineers and testing specialists work together to rapidly turn concepts into prototypes that answer development questions. From handling models to functional systems, we evaluate usability and technical performance, using the findings to refine the design and address risks as your drug delivery device develops.

“It’s that glue that really unites this group of people. I feel like I’m part of that glue now too. It’s such a fantastic feeling to be part of this community. I think it’s that glue that elevates the brilliance, competency, and expertise to a level you wouldn’t find anywhere else.”

Dr Annie Lent

Founder, Lent Innovations

Capabilities

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Human-Centered Design

Creating compelling user experiences for brands, packaging, products and services.

Product Strategy & Innovation

Creating the data, analysis and strategies for evidence based innovation decisions

Design Verification & Test Engineering

Prototyping and lab testing new products. Innovating while meeting regulatory standards. Proving performance at speed.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

Meeting the requirements of regulators around the world

Mechanical & Industrial Design Engineering

Transforming concepts and new technology into breakthrough manufactured products

Electronics & Software Engineering

World class digital and data innovation for the consumer, healthcare and industrial markets, from concept to global launch.

Manufacturing Engineering & Industrialization

Engineering and management creating a seamless transition from prototype to mass production for rapid launch

Sustainable & Circular Design

With extensive industry experience and a focus on technological advancements, we offer insights that drive progress towards sustainability goals.

Applied Science & Technology Development

Applying scientific rigor to create robust product technologies

Positioned for Innovation

Located at the heart of innovation in Cambridge, UK, and Raleigh, North Carolina, our bases are strategically positioned to tap into the world’s leading research and development communities.

ISO-Certified Management System

To support our product development and prototype manufacturing services, CDP’s Quality Management System is certified to ISO 13485:2016 by Intertek Medical Notified Body and ISO 9001:2015 by Intertek Certification Ltd. We are also certified to ISO 27001:2022 by Intertek Certification Ltd to support the maintenance of the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our clients data.

Client-Centric Intellectual Property Approach

Our clients fully own all intellectual property we help create. We equip them with the tools and knowledge to enable lasting independence.

Advancing Injectable Drug Delivery Systems

Unlock expert opinions and insights with four in-depth interviews on the challenges of parenteral innovation.

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|Cambridge Design Partnership | Future of Respiratory Drug Delivery

Breathing New Life: Industry Insights into the future of Respiratory Drug Delivery

Discover the exciting possibilities on the horizon for inhalation device design with our latest resource. This e-book explores recent advancements and highlights innovative strategies crucial for developing significant new treatments.

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