Pharmaceutical Development

Physical Characterization and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Most drug development programmes fail because critical developability risks are discovered too late. We take a different approach. Positioned between discovery and preclinical development, we use insight-led developability science to identify and address molecular, biopharmaceutical and solid-state risks before candidate selection. Our integrated approach combines predictive assessment, pharmaceutical sciences expertise and formulation innovation to transform data into decision-ready insight. The result is faster progression, fewer surprises and development-ready candidates that enter preclinical studies with a greater probability of success.

Formulation Strategy (DCS)

The Developability Classification System (DCS) classifies drug candidates by solubility and permeability to guide formulation strategy, improve oral bioavailability, reduce development risk, and support better candidate selection and formulation design throughout drug development.

Physical Property Measurements

IQVIA Laboratories’ Physical Property Measurement services characterize compounds in both solid and solution states by measuring properties such as LogP, pKa, logD, thermal behavior, degradation, hygroscopicity, particle size, and morphology. These analyses help researchers better understand compounds and support faster, more informed drug development decisions.

Polymorphism Screening

Polymorphism screening services identify and characterize crystalline forms of drug compounds to select the optimal solid form for development. This helps ensure consistent performance, reduce development risks, support formulation design, and uncover intellectual property opportunities through the evaluation of stability, dissolution, and other key properties.

Preformulation & Excipient Compatibility Studies

Preformulation and excipient compatibility studies evaluate a drug candidate’s stability, solubility, bioavailability, and formulation characteristics early in development. These studies help identify risks, guide formulation strategy, predict pharmacokinetic performance, and improve the likelihood of advancing successful clinical candidates.

Salt Screening

IQVIA Laboratories’ salt screening services identify optimal salt forms of drug compounds to improve dissolution, stability, hygroscopicity, bioavailability, and manufacturability. This approach can simplify development, reduce formulation challenges, strengthen intellectual property, and increase the likelihood of successful clinical advancement

Solubility, Dissolution and Stability

Solubility, dissolution, and stability studies assess compound behavior under various conditions to identify development risks early. These services help optimize formulation strategies, improve pharmaceutical developability, evaluate solid-state and solution stability, and support successful progression toward clinical development.

Biopharmaceutics & Developability Assessment

Drug delivery success is often determined long before formulation begins. Our biopharmaceutics assessment services are designed to identify and quantify developability risk at the earliest stages of development, generating the decision-ready insight needed to select the right candidate and the right delivery strategy. By evaluating molecular properties, dose requirements, solubility, dissolution and absorption potential within a developability classification framework, we assess route suitability and predict the likelihood of achieving target exposure. This allows us to distinguish formulation-solvable challenges from fundamental molecular limitations, supporting confident candidate progression and smarter investment decisions. The result is faster, more informed development, reduced downstream risk, and candidates that enter preclinical studies with a clear and robust delivery strategy.

Solid-State Developability Assessment

Selecting the right molecule is only part of the challenge. Selecting the right solid form can determine whether that molecule succeeds or fails. Our materials science team applies a developability-led approach to solid-state assessment, identifying and quantifying risks that could impact absorption, stability, manufacturability, and long-term programme success. Through comprehensive screening of polymorphs, salts, hydrates, solvates, and co-crystals, we distinguish development-enabling opportunities from solid-state liabilities before they become downstream obstacles.

This insight allows project teams to make confident candidate and form-selection decisions, reducing uncertainty and accelerating progression. Once the optimal form is identified, we develop robust crystallization processes that deliver the yield, purity, scalability, and solid-state control required to support successful preclinical and clinical development.

3210_Laboratory technicians conduct a series of tests on a chemical analyzer

Formula Development

A successful preclinical study depends not only on the quality of the molecule, but on the ability to deliver it effectively. Our formulation development services transform developability insight into fit-for-purpose drug delivery strategies that maximise exposure, support study objectives, and enable confident decision-making. Using data generated through biopharmaceutic and solid-state assessment, we evaluate the key factors governing drug delivery, including dose requirements, route suitability, exposure targets, formulation complexity, and molecule-specific risks.

For oral programmes, Developability Classification System (DCS) principles provide a structured framework for assessing dose feasibility, absorption risk, and formulation opportunities. This enables early identification of compounds that may require enabling technologies or alternative development strategies, whilst distinguishing manageable formulation challenges from fundamental molecular limitations.While oral delivery often requires detailed assessment of solubility, dissolution, and absorption barriers, we apply the same developability-led principles across parenteral, inhaled, topical, and other administration routes. By understanding the interplay between molecular properties, route-specific requirements, and study objectives, we select formulation strategies that are aligned to both the compound and its intended application.

From conventional formulations to enabling approaches such as lipid-based systems, amorphous solid dispersions, particle engineering, and specialised delivery technologies, we develop solutions designed to maximise the likelihood of generating meaningful in vivo data. Supporting studies, including dissolution, release characterisation, and formulation stability assessment are applied where appropriate to confirm performance and mitigate risk.By ensuring drug delivery strategy is driven by scientific understanding rather than empirical experimentation alone, we help teams maximise exposure, reduce study risk, and progress candidates through preclinical development with greater confidence. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that the formulation enables a clear assessment of therapeutic potential, allowing critical development decisions to be made on the strength of the molecule rather than the limitations of its delivery.

How soon should I start thinking about the physical properties of my compound?

Baseline solid form data is valuable as soon as you are planning in-vivo studies as the solid form can affect properties such as solubility and bioavailability, with bioequivalence between batches a key developability risk.
Further studies can be used to select and optimize lead compounds and find the best approaches to support your programme.

What routes of administration can you support?

The pharmaceutical development team has expertise across many therapeutic areas and RoAs, including respiratory, dermal, intravenous (IV), and systemic oral delivery.

What can I do if my compound has poor solubility?

Enabling formulation techniques can often be used to significantly improve a compound's solubility. Depending on the characteristics of your compound, the use of amorphous solid dispersions, nanosuspensions, lipid formulations, or complexing agents can overcome solubility challenges.

What is polymorphism screening?

Polymorphism screening is a process that aims to identify and characterize all the crystalline forms of a given compound and select the optimum form for development.

Does IQVIA Laboratories support both FFS and FTE engagements?

Yes. Flexible engagement models allow clients to access individual services or fully integrated discovery programs depending on project requirements.

Can Pharmaceutical Development work be included into my Integrated Drug Discovery project?

Absolutely. Our Pharmaceutical Development scientists work closely with medicinal chemistry, DMPK and in vivo study teams as part of a fully integrated drug discovery approach. By combining developability assessment, physical characterization and formulation expertise with pharmacokinetic, efficacy and chemistry data, we help guide candidate selection, support study design and ensure compounds are progressed with the greatest chance of success.