Centrix and University of Sussex Collaborate to Drive Data-Driven Pharma Development

Centrix Pharma Solutions, a U.K.-based CDMO, reports that it partnered with the University of Sussex on a new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) that will use advanced data analytics and predictive modeling to transform pharmaceutical product development by enabling smarter, data-driven decision-making.

Supported by Innovate UK, the £375,000 ($510,000) project, including £250,000 ($340,000) in grant funding, combines Centrix’s pharma development expertise with the University of Sussex’s research in data science to create “more reliable” approaches to product development.

As pharmaceutical development becomes increasingly data-rich, companies generate extensive formulation, analytical, and process data throughout development programs. However, this information is often fragmented across projects and systems, limiting its use in identifying trends, predicting outcomes and informing future development strategies.

Through the KTP, Centrix says it will develop new capabilities to analyze and interpret these datasets, initially focusing on early-stage product development. The project aims to create new data-driven tools and methodologies that help identify development risks earlier, reduce unnecessary experimentation, improve confidence in decision-making and accelerate the progression of promising medicines from development to clinical evaluation.

The partnership will also establish in-house data science expertise by recruiting a dedicated KTP Associate, strengthening Centrix Pharma’s research and development capabilities, and enhancing its service offering for customers.

“The pharmaceutical industry generates an enormous amount of valuable data throughout product development, but there is still significant untapped potential to use that information more effectively,” says Chris Davison, CEO of Centrix. “We recognized an opportunity to combine our pharmaceutical expertise with advanced data analytics to make better-informed decisions throughout the development process.

“The Knowledge Transfer Partnership gives us access to specialist academic expertise while embedding those capabilities within our business. This project represents an exciting opportunity to apply advanced data science techniques to a real-world pharmaceutical development challenge. Beyond the immediate project, we’re creating a long-term capability that will benefit both our team and our clients, helping us deliver more efficient development programs.”

“Knowledge Transfer Partnerships bring together academic expertise and real-world industrial challenges,” adds Kate Thorpe, head of innovation and business partnerships at the University of Sussex. “Our ambition is not only to solve today’s challenges but also to establish new ways of working that continue delivering value and innovation long after the project has concluded.”

Centrix Pharma Solutions’ new KTP Associate will lead the project, working across both organizations to embed new analytical approaches and act as a bridge between academic research and industrial application.

“The partnership showcases how collaboration between industry, academia and government can accelerate innovation across the UK’s life sciences sector, create skilled jobs, and help pharmaceutical companies bring new medicines to patients more efficiently.”

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