MedPharm

What MedPharm does

MedPharm is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in topical and transdermal drug products, founded in 1999 in Guildford, United Kingdom, with U.S. headquarters now in Durham, North Carolina. The company provides end-to-end services spanning pre-formulation, formulation development, in vitro release and permeation testing (IVRT/IVPT), analytical and bioanalytical services, research biology and tissue culture, process development and scale-up, clinical trial material manufacturing, and commercial GMP manufacturing for semi-solid and liquid dosage forms (creams, gels, ointments, lotions, solutions, sprays, patches). Core delivery routes include dermal, transdermal, nasal, ophthalmic, ungual (nail), otic, and mucosal applications. The technology platform incorporates several proprietary assets, including the MedSpray® film-forming aerosol technology, the MedCast™ 3D-printed nasal cavity model, ChubTur® and TurChub® nail diffusion cells, the MedFlux-HT® automated flow-through diffusion system, reconstructed nasal epithelium (RNE) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) tissue models, and the in-development EYEVPT® ocular model. Compounding capacity spans 10L to 1500L batches.

MedPharm generates revenue through project-based, fee-for-service contracts with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies ranging from top-10 global multinationals to small biotech startups, across both innovator (505(b)(2), orphan, breakthrough) and generic (ANDA) pathways. The company sells exclusively via direct enterprise engagement, supported by a dedicated business development team, conference participation (BIO, CPHI, DCAT, DDL), technical publications, and virtual facility tours. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contract cadences. MedPharm is majority owned by Ampersand Capital Partners, with Bourne Partners Strategic Capital and Great Point Partners retaining significant minority positions following the 2024 merger with Tergus Pharma.

In 2024, MedPharm merged with Tergus Pharma to combine formulation development and clinical manufacturing with commercial-scale production, and in February 2026, Ampersand acquired Belgium-based Purna Pharmaceuticals to establish a trans-Atlantic CDMO platform spanning the UK, US, and continental Europe. Leadership transitioned in 2025 with Bill Humphries appointed CEO, bringing prior CEO experience at Alcami, Merz North America, and Stiefel (a GSK company).

Name

MedPharm

Legal name

MedPharm OpCo LLC

Website

https://medpharm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

MedPharm is a PE-backed topical and transdermal CDMO providing formulation development, IVRT/IVPT testing, and GMP manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotech clients across dermal, nasal, ocular, ungual, and mucosal delivery routes, operating from UK and US facilities under Ampersand Capital Partners ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical CDMO Services

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK), Contract Development & Manufacturing for Generics (CDMO/CMO) (HLAIABAI)

Keywords

• Topical drug formulation
• Transdermal drug delivery
• Contract development manufacturing
• In vitro permeation testing
• Pharmaceutical CDMO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Guildford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) Services: MedPharm operates as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing fee-for-service pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for formulation development, analytical testing, IVRT/IVPT studies, clinical trial material manufacturing, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing. Services span early-phase research through commercial production across multiple delivery routes including dermal, transdermal, nasal, ophthalmic, ungual, otic, and mucosal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MedPharm is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that partners with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to develop, test, and manufacture topical and transepithelial drug products. Services span pre-formulation, formulation development, in vitro performance testing (IVRT/IVPT), scale-up and process development, clinical trial material manufacturing, and commercial GMP manufacturing across dermal, transdermal, ungual, ophthalmic, respiratory (nasal and lung), and mucosal delivery routes. The company supports both innovator and generic drug programs from early phase through commercial production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MedSpray®: A patented aerosol formulation technology developed by MedPharm that leaves a film on skin or tissue surfaces, thermodynamically optimized to maximize API permeation and penetration. The technology provides long-term dosing from a clear patch applied as a spray and is considered cosmetically elegant.
• MedCast™
• MedFlux-HT®

Products and services

• Formulation Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% IP generation success rate when IP generation is a defined program objective
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Palvella TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026MedPharm was selected by Palvella Therapeutics as its contract drug development and manufacturing partner for QTORIN™ 3.9% rapamycin anhydrous gel, an investigational therapy for microcystic lymphatic malformations. MedPharm scientists handled formulation development for this challenging molecule (addressing large molecular weight, poor solubility, and chemical instability), conducted IVPT and IVRT testing, scale-up, and manufacturing readiness. QTORIN™ rapamycin received Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug, and Fast Track designations from the FDA. MedPharm has also been selected to advance QTORIN™ pitavastatin for porokeratosis.
• Purna PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Purna Pharmaceuticals, a Belgium-based provider of development and manufacturing services for liquid and semi-solid pharmaceutical dosage forms established in 1986, was acquired by Ampersand Capital Partners. The acquisition creates a trans-Atlantic strategic partnership between Purna and MedPharm, positioning the combined entity as a global provider for formulation, development, and manufacturing of topical and transdermal pharmaceutical products. Purna serves clients ranging from small start-ups to multinational pharmaceutical companies under GXP standards. MedPharm and Purna have highly complementary capabilities, enabling delivery of greater value to clients through a trans-Atlantic CDMO platform.
• Heparin TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025MedPharm serves as CDMO partner for Heparin Therapeutics, supporting development of a proprietary inhaled unfractionated heparin (UFH) product (HT-231) for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and other respiratory conditions. MedPharm's partnership contributed to Heparin Therapeutics publishing pivotal clinical findings in a Lancet Group journal demonstrating that inhaled UFH significantly reduced intubation and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with no serious adverse effects. The collaboration aims to bring the first patented, safe, and well-tolerated inhaled UFH product to market.
• MosannaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedPharm collaborates with Mosanna to develop a new drug to tackle Metabolic Obstructive Sleep Apnea, providing formulation development and drug delivery expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Purna Pharmaceuticals: Belgian CDMO established in 1986 specializing in liquid and semi-solid dosage forms. Acquired by MedPharm's sponsor Ampersand in 2026 to form a trans-Atlantic partnership; offers highly comparable topical CDMO services.
• Halo Pharma: CDMO with capabilities in semi-solid and liquid dosage forms including topical and nasal products. Direct peer in formulation development and clinical/commercial manufacturing for skin and respiratory delivery.
• Tergus Pharma: Topical and transdermal CDMO that merged with MedPharm in 2024. Direct peer given overlapping formulation development, IVRT/IVPT testing, and clinical manufacturing capabilities for semi-solid and liquid dosage forms.
• Tapemark: CDMO specializing in transdermal patches and topical drug delivery systems. Directly comparable for transdermal formulation development and commercial manufacturing services.
• Dow Development Labs (DDP): US-based specialty CDMO focused on topical and transdermal semi-solid drug development and manufacturing. Direct competitor for complex generics and innovator topical programs.
• Quagen Pharmaceuticals: Specialty CDMO offering topical, dermatological, and semi-solid formulation development and manufacturing services. Comparable niche focus on topical drug products for pharma and biotech clients.

Broad incumbents

• PCI Pharma Services: Global CDMO offering clinical and commercial manufacturing including topical and semi-solid dosage forms. Competes with MedPharm for late-stage and commercial topical programs across pharma sponsors.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (CDMO services): Diversified global CDMO with topical, oral, sterile, and biologics capabilities. Competes with MedPharm on integrated development-through-commercial programs for large pharma sponsors.
• Aenova Group: European-headquartered CDMO with semi-solid, liquid, and oral solid dose capabilities including topical formulations. Overlaps with MedPharm in dermal and transdermal contract manufacturing.
• Catalent: Large global CDMO offering topical, transdermal, and oral dose capabilities alongside injectables and biologics. Broad incumbent serving the same pharma and biotech clients across overlapping dosage forms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medpharm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MedPharm