Interview with our Formulation Project Manager – Tamas Kiss PhD
What kinds of products or projects are you mainly working on at the moment?
Most of the projects I’m working on are confidential. Still, I can say that we’re involved in multiple formulation development programs for pharmaceutical products, including ocular, parenteral, and oral dosage forms, which I help coordinate. I’m also responsible for some internal pipeline projects that we’re developing in-house.
How are cyclodextrins usually used in your formulations — is it more for solubility, stability, or something else?
You’re right — cyclodextrins are primarily used for improving solubility and stability. But they also offer several other benefits due to their ability to form inclusion complexes with parts or even the whole molecule. For example, they can mask unpleasant taste or odor, and they can interact with cholesterol in biological membranes, which in turn may enhance the permeability of certain APIs, especially those in BCS Class III or IV.
What’s the most challenging part of developing cyclodextrin-based formulations?
One of the main challenges is that only a limited number of cyclodextrins are approved for most administration routes, so you can’t just choose any cyclodextrin for a given formulation. You must be very careful when selecting excipients. That’s where expertise really matters — having a solid understanding of the regulatory landscape can save a lot of time and effort by avoiding unnecessary studies.
What does a typical project timeline look like, from idea to client delivery or product transfer?
I’d say we’re quite agile — after the initial consultation with a client, we typically prepare a detailed work proposal with pricing within about two weeks. This timeline can be longer if we need to outsource specific tasks, for example, when handling highly potent APIs. Project durations vary depending on complexity, but most run between 4 and 40 weeks. The number of experimental iterations and the duration of stability studies are key factors that influence the overall timeline. If the formulation performs as expected, we need a few additional weeks for tech transfer so it can be manufactured at scale under GMP conditions.
Do you also get involved in discussions with partners or clients about new projects?
Yes, I’m involved in discussions with clients at the early stage of several parallel projects, even before the actual work begins. From there, I take on the coordination role — which doesn’t necessarily mean doing the lab work myself, but instead planning and overseeing activities based on the agreed timeline, scope, and budget and being the link among the stakeholders. In the projects I manage, I’m also responsible for summarizing the results and conclusions in a final report for the client.
What do you enjoy most about working there so far — scientifically or otherwise?
What I enjoy most is working on several projects in parallel and organizing my tasks effectively. I like using tools that help me stay on top of things. I also really enjoy deepening my knowledge in the pharmaceutical field. Over time, I’ve come to understand regulatory thinking better, and I feel I’m continuously improving in managing R&D projects. Additionally, I’ve recently taken on business development responsibilities in the cosmetics sector, which is an entirely new endeavor for both me and the company. It’s a big challenge, but one I find really exciting. Besides, I am responsible for the intern at our company, I enjoy mentoring him.
Where do you see the company’s biggest opportunity for growth in the next couple of years?
I think the company’s most significant opportunity lies in the success of multiple pipeline projects, not just one standout, but several. If these milestones are reached, it will significantly increase our visibility in the industry. Beyond our current revenue streams from grants and CRO-type services, generating income from our pipeline assets would dramatically strengthen the business model, providing us with greater independence and recognition.
