DFE Pharma, Harro Hofliger, and Sterling partner in INTO to provide formulation services for respiratory products

Three leading companies in their respective fields – DFE Pharma (excipients solution provider), Harro Höfliger (equipment supplier), and Sterling (API manufacturer) – announced a unique partnership with the establishment of “Inhalation Together” (INTO) in the field of dry powder inhalation (DPI).

This initiative provides R&D services to pharmaceutical companies in the respiratory field, making formulation development simpler, faster, and easier to manage. INTO offers a coordinated and aligned suite of services, leveraging the expertise and complementary skill sets of its three partners.

Developing a DPI formulation is a complex process, with a strong interdependency between process, powder, device, and patient. This increases the need for high-quality customer support. To address the specific customer needs, the INTO services range from initial consultancy and problem statement development to a stepwise formulation development program. The individual services include, among others, solid-state characterization and sono-crystallization of APIs and studies to optimize formulation, blending, and filling. The three INTO partners can also offer extensive consultancy services.

“I am very excited about the INTO initiative because it increases speed to market and reduces the complexity of formulation and process development. The three companies have a very good understanding of the critical aspects of development and manufacture of DPI products, therefore, adding significant value to our customers”, explained Martti Hedman, CEO of DFE Pharma.

About DFE Pharma

DFE Pharma is a global leader in pharma- and nutraceutical excipient solutions. We develop, produce and supply high-quality functional excipients for use in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries for respiratory, oral solid dose (OSD), ophthalmic and parenteral formulations. Our excipients are used in numerous medicinal and nutraceutical products, including COVID-19 vaccines and – treatments.

Our excipients play an essential role as fillers, binders, disintegrants, and in stabilizing active ingredients for release in a predictable and effective manner into the patient’s system. With more than a century of experience and around 450 people worldwide, we are serving over 5,000 customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Headquartered in Goch, Germany, DFE Pharma is committed to supporting (bio)pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies in their journey to improve patients’ lives, driven by our purpose your medicines, our solutions. Moving to a healthier world.

About Harro Höfliger

Harro Höfliger specializes in the development of customer-oriented process and production solutions for pharmaceutical and medical applications as well as market-oriented consumer products. In addition to innovative machine platforms and packaging machines, customized turnkey system solutions for product assembly, processing of web materials, as well as dosing and inhalation technology are the company’s core expertise.

The systematically structured portfolio of upscalable test machines and modules, as well as requirement-oriented technology platforms, results from many years of experience and targeted research and development. Thus, Harro Höfliger covers all phases from the laboratory stage to high-performance production.

About Sterling S.p.A.

Sterling founded in 1976 is a leading manufacturer of globally approved APIs with class leading facilities in Italy and Malta. Sterling delivers cost-efficient synthesis, process development, solid state science, material characterisation, commercial manufacturing and life-cycle management solutions and has a proven capability to develop APIs for Respiratory sector (Rx & Gx) used in pMDI, capsule and complex DPI products. For more than 30 years Sterling has partnered with clients and supported successful complex inhalation programs providing advanced solutions for customers and in doing so supporting the world’s population in the delivery of Respiratory Medicines.