Specialists in Topical Medicines – Now Expanding Capacity in Oral Formulations

Zelmic is known as an experienced and reliable CRO and CDMO partner with specialist expertise in the development of topical and transdermal medicines. The company, which has expanded its GMP certification for investigational medicinal products, now also offers development within the oral product segment.

Analytical testing of drug candidates in Zelmic’s GMP-certified environment. Photo: Zelmic

The privately owned CRO and CDMO partner Zelmic, founded in Lund in 2002, has extensive experience in developing topical medicines and advancing products to preclinical and clinical trials in a cost-efficient and safe manner.

– Topical products have proven to be an effective treatment for local diseases and symptoms in and beneath the skin. Since our inception, we have specialized in dermatological products, says David Sagna, co-founder and CEO of Zelmic.

– Each client project is unique, and we do not run any competing in-house projects, which has been a significant competitive advantage. We are currently seeing strong interest in the development of topical dermatology products, and as one of the leading players in the Nordics, both small and large companies turn to us.

David Sagna, co-founder and CEO of Zelmic. Photo: Zelmic.

Zelmic has built a strong team with specialized expertise across multiple areas of drug development, which, combined with GMP certification, has expanded the company’s service offering. Today, Zelmic operates a flexible GMP unit for the manufacturing of clinical trial materials.

– It is easy to underestimate the complexity of topical drug development. Despite being a smaller player, we are highly successful in quickly defining a clear plan and a robust concept to advance a product.

– We can support our clients in early clinical phases in a fast, flexible, and cost-efficient way, including first-in-human (FIH) and proof-of-concept (PoC) studies. With our expertise and experience, we can now also manufacture oral solutions, suspensions, and capsules.

Zelmic team members working in a controlled production environment for clinical trial materials. Photo: Zelmic

Expanded Offering Through CTR

Since 2024, Zelmic has new ownership and is part of the Center for Translational Research, headquartered in Uppsala. This enables the company to offer services ranging from toxicological evaluation and regulatory expertise to bioanalysis and clinical testing.

– The companies within the group complement each other well. Today, we offer an integrated fast-track concept, supporting our clients across the entire value chain, including analysis, import of samples, manufacturing, release, and distribution. With on-site clinical capacity in both Uppsala and the Netherlands, we can significantly shorten lead times compared to traditional setups.