Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen

What Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen does

The Department of Pharmacy is an academic department within the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, conducting fundamental and translational pharmaceutical sciences research alongside bachelor's, master's, PhD, and continuing education programs through its PharmaSchool and Drug Research Academy (DRA, ~150 PhD students). Its research portfolio spans drug formulation and delivery (cutaneous, pulmonary, CNS blood-brain barrier models), analytical chemistry (mass spectrometry imaging, solid-state analysis, microfluidics), regulatory science and pharmacovigilance, and pharmaceutical data science. The department operates ten specialized centers and platforms, including the LEO Foundation Center for Cutaneous Drug Delivery (10-year LEO Foundation grant), the Center for Biopharmaceuticals and Biobarriers in Drug Delivery, the Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education (DKK 123 million from Novo Nordisk Foundation, Lundbeck Foundation, and LEO Foundation across UCPH and SDU), the ESS Lighthouse CaIFF for neutron and X-ray scattering, the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Patient Perspective in Medicine Use (redesignated 2026–2030), CORS² for regulatory science and real-world studies, CPHarma for solid-state analysis, and CADA for advanced drug analysis. Revenue derives primarily from Danish government allocations, private foundation grants (Novo Nordisk Foundation, Lundbeck Foundation, LEO Foundation, Carlsberg Foundation), and international/EU research funding (Independent Research Fund Denmark, Eurostars, Marie Curie), supplemented by contract analytical services through CPHarma and industrial collaborations with Novo Nordisk, Roche, and Biogen Idec. The department ranks 7th globally among pharmaceutical research environments, with over 40% of academic staff holding international backgrounds, and pursues technology transfer via UCPH Lighthouse and spin-outs such as Sonohaler (a sound-based ML dry powder inhaler commercialized with Superellipse under a Eurostars grant).

Name

Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen

Legal name

Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen

Website

https://pharmacy.ku.dk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen conducts pharmaceutical sciences research across drug delivery, analytical chemistry, regulatory science, and data science, operates ten specialized research centers, offers degree programs, and serves as a WHO Collaborating Centre for patient-centered medicine use.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Sciences Research and Education

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAGAE

Schools of Pharmacy

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Medical & Health Sciences Universities

SECONDARYEDAHAGAI

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Medical & Health Sciences Universities

SECONDARYHLAIALAD

CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Pharmaceutical Research and Development

SECONDARYEDAAALAC

Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical sciences
• Drug delivery research
• Pharmaceutical education
• Drug formulation
• Regulatory science

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: Major grants from Independent Research Fund Denmark, Carlsberg Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Lundbeck Foundation, LEO Foundation, and EU funding including Marie Curie Fellowships and Eurostars projects
2. Educational Programs: Bachelor's, master's, PhD programs, and continuing education funded through university system and student tuition (where applicable)
3. Analytical Services and Contract Research: CPHarma provides analytical services for solid drug development ranging from simple measurements to full support. CaIFF supports research translation through contract research organizations (GTS)

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Department of Pharmacy conducts fundamental and translational pharmaceutical sciences research and delivers bachelor's, master's, PhD, and continuing education programs. It houses multiple specialized research centers covering drug delivery, drug formulation, analytical chemistry, regulatory science, cutaneous drug delivery, CNS drug delivery, and pharmaceutical data science, and it provides analytical and contract research services to pharmaceutical industry partners.

Product overview

The Department of Pharmacy at the University of Copenhagen is an academic research institution focused on pharmaceutical sciences, drug delivery, and medicine development. It does not offer commercial products or services for sale. The department conducts fundamental and translational research across multiple areas including drug formulation, delivery systems, analytical chemistry, and regulatory science. Research outputs include publications, trained researchers, and spin-off companies such as Sonohaler. The department offers educational programs at bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels, as well as continuing education through PharmaSchool. Key research infrastructure includes analytical core facilities like CPHarma for solid-state analysis and CADA for drug analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PharmaSchool: Educational programs and continuing education in pharmaceuticals at UCPH
• DRA - Drug Research Academy
• CaIFF - Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma

Products and services

• PharmaSchool Educational Programs Continuing education and supplementary training in pharmaceutical sciences for working professionals, integrated with the department's bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs. Targets students and industry professionals seeking pharmaceutical sciences competencies.
• DRA - Drug Research Academy PhD research training school within the Department of Pharmacy, organizing PhD courses, workshops, and summer schools for approximately 150 PhD students in pharmaceutical sciences.
• CPHarma - Analytical Services for Solid Drug Development Analytical services for pharmaceutical solid-state drug development, ranging from simple measurements to full analytical support, offered to pharmaceutical industry partners using Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, X-ray Powder Diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy, FTIR, and SEM instrumentation.
• CADA - Center for Advanced Drug Analysis Analytical research and collaboration facility combining three research groups and a core facility, providing advanced drug analysis, mass spectrometry imaging for peptide drugs, microfluidics, and capillary electrophoresis for protein analysis and pharmaceutical characterization.
• CaIFF - Colloids and Interfaces in Food and Pharma ESS Lighthouse contract research organization providing gateway access for industrial and academic users to conduct neutron-based and X-ray scattering experiments at the European Spallation Source and MAX IV for pharmaceutical and food colloid and interface science research, with GTS industrial support via Danish Technological Institute, Bioneer:FARMA, and FORCE Technology.
• CPDSE - Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education Inter-university center integrating data science competencies across bachelor's, master's, PhD, and continuing education in pharmaceutical sciences across seven departments at University of Copenhagen and University of Southern Denmark.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 90% of small-molecule drug candidates suffer from poor aqueous solubility - the department addresses this through amorphous engineering research showing polyamorphs can offer higher solubility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Bioneer:FARMAsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGTS contract research organization providing industrial research project support for CaIFF.
• SonohalercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCPH spin-out company co-developing smart dry powder inhaler with sound-based machine learning. Mingshi Yang led UCPH team in Eurostars project (Oct 2022 - Jan 2025) to develop dry powder formulations for the inhaler device. Collaboration involves formulation scientists from SUND and data scientists from Sonohaler.
• SuperellipsecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm (formerly Achilles Design) collaborating on development of new dry powder inhaler design. Contributed engineers Tim Ruytjens and Thomas Lust to Eurostars project team.
• UCPH LighthousesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResources for innovators and entrepreneurs at UCPH providing support with legally binding agreements and contract preparation for product development.
• European Spallation Source (ESS)coreTechnology or IntegrationESS Lighthouse CaIFF project centered around using ESS neutron-based techniques for pharmaceutical and food research. CaIFF collaborates with ESS and provides gateway for new users in Denmark wanting to conduct neutron-based experiments.
• Aarhus UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaIFF collaboration between UCPH and Aarhus University with backing from Technical University of Denmark, University of Southern Denmark, and Lund University. 16 research groups from both universities working on neutron and synchrotron methodologies.
• MAX IV LaboratorycoreTechnology or IntegrationLund-based synchrotron facility collaborating with CaIFF for X-ray scattering studies. Research groups at Lund University play central role in both MAX IV and ESS.
• University of BaselsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Jörg Huwyler (University of Basel) provides expertise in drug targeting with particulate carriers for DISCO project on amorphous engineering.
• University of East AngliasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Yaroslav Khimyak provides access to advanced solid-state NMR techniques for amorphous engineering research.
• Ludwig-Maximilians University MunichsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Anna-Sophia Wahl collaborating on DFF-2 project for brain-targeted stroke therapeutics alongside Mie Kristensen's team.
• Danish Technological InstitutesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContract research organization (GTS) supporting CaIFF research translation and industrial development through Big Science Center involvement.
• FORCE TechnologysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGTS contract research organization engaged in CaIFF industrial research support.
• University of Southern Denmark (SDU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPDSE collaboration between UCPH and SDU encompassing seven departments from both universities. Deputy Head of Center Professor Jacob Kongsted from SDU driving joint mission.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Uppsala University - Faculty of Pharmacy: Leading Nordic pharmacy faculty historically strong in drug delivery, formulation, and pharmaceutical physical chemistry. Directly comparable to UCPH Department of Pharmacy in research scope, ranking, and Scandinavian positioning; UCPH's Martin Malmsten previously headed this faculty.
• Leiden University - Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR): Top European pharmaceutical research institute with strong drug delivery, pharmacology, and analytical chemistry programs. Comparable in scale, international standing, and breadth of pharmaceutical sciences research.
• ETH Zurich - Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences: World-leading Swiss institution with strong pharmaceutical sciences, drug formulation, and pharmaceutical physical chemistry research. Comparable in technical depth, international faculty mix, and elite global standing.
• UCL School of Pharmacy: UK's premier pharmacy school with strong drug delivery, formulation, and pharmaceutical sciences research. Comparable in research output, ranking tier, and international student/faculty composition.
• University of Groningen - Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy: Dutch pharmacy research institute with strong pharmaceutical analysis and drug discovery programs. Comparable in scope of pharmaceutical sciences research and European academic positioning.
• King's College London - Institute of Pharmaceutical Science: Major UK pharmaceutical research institute with strong drug delivery and formulation research. Comparable in research scale, pharmaceutical sciences focus, and London/global research reach.
• Monash University - Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences: Top-ranked global pharmacy faculty with strong drug delivery and formulation research. Comparable in international standing, research output scale, and pharmaceutical sciences breadth.

Regional players

• University of Helsinki - Faculty of Pharmacy: Nordic peer pharmacy faculty with overlapping drug delivery and pharmaceutical sciences research. Comparable as a regional competitor for Nordic pharmaceutical talent, grants, and research students, but primarily serves Finland rather than competing directly for Danish foundation funding.

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global commercial pharmaceutical testing and contract research services provider. Comparable as a commercial alternative for the analytical services CADA and CPHarma offer to industry; broader portfolio and commercial scale rather than academic specialization.

Others

• Bioneer:FARMA: Danish GTS contract research organization partnered with the department's CaIFF center for industrial research translation. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; comparable in providing pharmaceutical R&D services to Danish industry.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/university-of-copenhagen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen