Aug 05, 2026
.webp "Accelerating Modern Drug Development with Science Collective")
Drug development has never been more complex. Today's therapies often involve novel modalities, specialized manufacturing processes, and global development programs that require expertise across multiple scientific disciplines. As projects become more sophisticated, making the right technical decisions early and maintaining alignment throughout development can greatly affect timelines, risk, and long-term success.
Recognizing this need, Piramal Pharma Solutions created the Science Collective a cross-functional team of experienced scientific leaders who work across the company's global network to support customers throughout development, manufacturing, commercialization, and life cycle management.
Many of the biggest development challenges can be addressed before laboratory work even begins. Early technical assessments help determine whether a molecule can be safely manufactured, identify the most appropriate manufacturing site, and confirm that the required technologies and capabilities are available.
The Science Collective evaluates projects from multiple perspectives, including containment requirements, manufacturing strategy, regulatory expectations, and overall Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) planning. This early collaboration helps establish a clear technical roadmap and reduces the risk of costly changes later in development.
For highly potent compounds, specialized peptides, biologics, or complex modalities like antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), these early decisions are particularly important because development often spans multiple technologies and manufacturing sites.
One of the defining strengths of the Science Collective is its broad scientific expertise.
Members include Dr. Jordi Bacardit, Global Technical Lead, Peptides; Dr. Conor Barry, VP and Global Head of Bioconjugate & Large Molecule R&D; Dr. Jean-Francois Carniaux, VP and Global API Technical Lead; Dr. Nirav Desai, Co-founder and COO of Yapan Bio; Dr. Brad Gold, VP and Global Head of Formulations R&D; and Dr. Sundar Neelakantan, Director of Development. Together, they contribute decades of scientific and manufacturing experience across peptides, APIs, formulations, biologics, vaccines, and integrated programs. These experts collaborate to provide clients with strategic guidance and help them make informed decisions at every stage of their program.
This cross-functional approach allows scientific knowledge to flow throughout a project, helping teams anticipate technical challenges, align development activities, and maintain continuity as programs evolve.
Scientific support continues well after project initiation.
As development progresses, the Science Collective works alongside manufacturing, quality, regulatory affairs, project management, and site teams to help resolve technical challenges, guide process development, and support technology transfers between facilities.
Because these experts have visibility across Piramal's global network, they can help ensure projects maintain alignment as manufacturing scales or moves between sites. Their involvement also helps balance scientific, operational, and regulatory considerations throughout development.
Today's drug development programs often involve multiple manufacturing sites and specialized technologies. Coordinating these activities can be challenging without strong communication and centralized technical oversight.
The Science Collective helps bridge these functions by connecting customers with technical expertise across Piramal's global operations. Combined with a robust integrated program management strategy, this approach promotes consistent communication, coordinated execution, and faster decision-making.
This integrated model is especially valuable for complex programs like ADCs, where peptide synthesis, biologics development, payload-linker manufacturing, conjugation, and sterile fill/finish must all work together within a coordinated development strategy.
As pharmaceutical innovation continues to advance, successful development increasingly depends on combining specialized scientific expertise with integrated execution. Access to experienced technical leaders can help identify risks earlier, improve collaboration across functions, and keep complex programs moving forward.
By assembling experts across multiple therapeutic modalities and manufacturing disciplines, the Science Collective helps support more informed decision-making throughout the development life cycle, ultimately helping customers advance innovative therapies more efficiently.
The Science Collective is a team of experienced scientific experts who provide technical guidance across drug development, manufacturing, commercialization, and CMC strategy.
Early planning is important in drug development because it helps identify technical risks, select appropriate manufacturing strategies, support regulatory readiness, and improve overall project efficiency.
Integrated scientific expertise benefits pharmaceutical companies by improving collaboration across development functions, supporting technology transfer, reducing project risk, and accelerating complex drug development programs.
The Science Collective supports projects across Piramal';s entire global network.
