UK-based contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Upperton Pharma Solutions has been awarded funding through the first VaxHub Sustainable Platform Funding Call, working in partnership with the University of Oxford. The grant is directed towards developing an oral formulation of Adenovirus-vectored vaccines.
The project, headed by Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert of the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, is designed to tackle the current challenges of intramuscular vaccine use. Through exploring oral delivery, the research aims to generate mucosal immunity, boost vaccine resilience, ease logistical barriers, and facilitate self-administration.
Upperton will apply its expertise in oral dosage form development, particle engineering and spray drying to support formulation development work, enabling the next generation of Adenovirus-vectored vaccines to be delivered without needles, facilitating greater public acceptability and vaccine uptake.
“We’re proud to partner with the University of Oxford on this initiative,” said Richard Johnson, Chief Scientific Officer at Upperton. “Oral vaccine delivery has the potential to transform global immunisation and pandemic response strategies, and this project is a significant step forward where we can apply our formulation development expertise.”
The VaxHub Sustainable Platform Funding Call, launched in January 2025 aims to support innovative projects aligned with sustainable vaccine development. The joint project is expected to complete in summer 2026.
Upperton Pharma Solutions specialises in formulation development, clinical trial manufacturing, and manufacturing across various dosage forms, including oral solids, liquids, semi-solids, inhalation and sterile products. With a state-of-the-art 60,000 sq. ft facility in Nottingham, the company offers integrated CDMO services from pre-clinical development through to market supply.
VaxHub Sustainable is a research initiative funded by the UK’s EPSRC. Co-led by Prof Martina Micheletti (UCL) and Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert (Oxford), with the goal of positioning the UK as a global leader in sustainable vaccine manufacturing.
This work is supported by funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for the Manufacturing Research Hub for a Sustainable Future (VaxHub Sustainable) co-directed by University College London and the University of Oxford with UK university partners is gratefully acknowledged (Grant Reference: EP/X038181/1).
