The pharmaceutical industry’s interest in topical and mucosal drug delivery continues to accelerate as developers search for more effective ways to improve therapeutic performance, patient compliance, and targeted delivery. As these therapies become more sophisticated, formulation scientists are increasingly focused on understanding how polymers, permeation behavior, and formulation design influence overall product performance.

At the 2026 Topical Products Conference (TPC), taking place June 8–9 in Atlanta, Georgia, Contract Pharmaceuticals Limited will help lead that discussion through a featured technical presentation from Dr. Chetan Chure, Associate Director of Pharmaceutical Services at CPL.

Dr. Chure’s presentation, “From Polymer to Performance: Mucoadhesive Drug Formulation Behavior and Permeation,” will examine how different mucoadhesive polymers and formulation strategies impact drug release behavior and permeation performance across biologically relevant membrane systems.

Advancing the Science of Mucoadhesive Formulations

As part of the research being presented, CPL evaluated multiple mucoadhesive formulations using specialized in vitro release systems designed to better understand how formulations behave on mucosal surfaces. The work incorporates an in-vitro permeation study to evaluate adhesion characteristics, release profiles, and permeation behavior.

For pharmaceutical companies developing topical or mucosal therapies, this type of research is becoming increasingly important. Modern formulation development is no longer focused solely on delivering active ingredients. Developers must also consider retention time, absorption behavior, patient experience, scalability, and long-term product performance.

The ability to evaluate these variables early in development can significantly improve formulation decision-making and reduce challenges later in commercialization.

Why CPL Is Positioned to Lead the Conversation

CPL’s participation at TPC reflects decades of experience supporting topical pharmaceutical development programs from concept through commercialization. During the creative briefing discussing the conference, Dr. Chure explained that CPL has more than 30 years of experience in formulation development, optimization, manufacturing, scale-up, troubleshooting, and commercial support for topical products serving both domestic and global markets.

That experience extends across the entire development lifecycle. CPL provides formulation development laboratories, analytical testing capabilities, manufacturing infrastructure, scale-up expertise, and technology transfer support within a single integrated organization.

For sponsors, that integrated structure can simplify development timelines and reduce the complexity that often comes with managing multiple outside vendors during formulation and commercialization activities.

Supporting Complex Topical Product Development

Topical drug products often present unique formulation challenges. Variables such as viscosity, rheology, permeation, release behavior, and stability can dramatically affect product performance and patient outcomes. Those challenges become even more complicated when sponsors are working with difficult molecules or reformulating existing commercial products.

According to Dr. Chure, many of the companies CPL expects to engage with at TPC fall into two primary categories: organizations developing new topical formulations and companies seeking alternative CDMO support for existing commercial products or site transfer activities.

This aligns closely with CPL’s core strengths.

The company has long positioned itself as a comprehensive topical CDMO partner capable of supporting pharmaceutical companies from early formulation strategy through commercial manufacturing and ongoing technical support.

Technical Expertise Backed by Industry Experience

Dr. Chure brings nearly two decades of pharmaceutical formulation experience to the conference stage. Over the course of his career, he has worked across novel NDA/ ANDA/ 505(b), topical formulations, nasal drug delivery systems, solid and liquid oral dosage forms, suspensions, and complex pharmaceutical development projects, many of which have progressed successfully into commercial markets.

His background in formulation science and product development allows him to approach technical challenges from both a research and commercialization perspective. That practical experience continues to help pharmaceutical sponsors navigate formulation obstacles while identifying scalable solutions for long-term success.

The presentation itself is expected to resonate strongly with pharmaceutical industry professionals involved in formulation development and topical dosage form innovation.

A Growing Event for Topical Pharmaceutical Innovation

The Topical Products Conference has quickly become an important gathering point for scientists and pharmaceutical professionals focused specifically on topical drug development. According to Dr. Chure, the conference was established to create a dedicated space where researchers from academia and industry could share technical findings, discuss development challenges, and collaborate on solutions impacting the future of topical therapies.

For CPL, the 2026 event also marks the company’s first appearance at TPC following its recent rebrand. While the visual identity may be new, the organization’s foundation within the topical pharmaceutical development space remains deeply established.

Attendees visiting the CPL booth will have the opportunity to discuss topical formulation development, manufacturing support, scale-up services, technology transfer solutions, and commercialization strategy with members of the CPL team.

Meet CPL at TPC 2026

As topical and mucosal therapies continue to evolve, the need for experienced formulation and manufacturing partners will only continue to grow. Through its upcoming presentation at TPC 2026, CPL aims to showcase both the scientific research driving formulation innovation and the technical expertise that continues to support pharmaceutical sponsors around the world.

Industry professionals attending the conference are encouraged to attend Dr. Chure’s presentation and connect with the CPL team during the event to learn more about the company’s integrated topical pharmaceutical development capabilities.