Episode
251 - The Future of Drug Delivery: Orals, Injectables, Sustainability & Device Strategy
- Published
- Aug 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2969
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Summary
In this episode, Subhi Saadeh sits down with Steven Kaufman, Founder of Combination Product Solutions, Inc. and fractional Chief Commercial Officer at Portal Instruments, to discuss where the drug delivery device market is headed and what it takes for new technologies to actually make it to patients. Steven brings more than 21 years of experience across drug delivery and combination products, spanning strategy, business development, commercialization, consulting, and executive leadership. The conversation explores what makes a drug delivery device commercially successful in 2026, why pharma companies can be hesitant to adopt unproven technologies, and how device companies can differentiate in an increasingly crowded market. Steven also discusses the growth of larger-volume subcutaneous delivery, the tradeoffs between reusable and disposable devices, sustainability, primary container strategy, and the changing role of sales and business development in drug delivery. Subhi and Steven also dig into oral GLP-1s and whether oral drugs could ultimately displace injectables. Steven explains why route of administration alone does not determine the better solution — efficacy, patient adherence, cost, usability, and the overall treatment experience all matter. The episode closes with Steven looking ahead to 2035 and explaining why he believes sustainability will be one of the major forces shaping the next generation of drug delivery devices. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Steven’s Drug Delivery “Bookshelf” 02:24 From Marketing to Drug Delivery Strategy 06:10 What Makes a Device Commercially Successful in 2026? 11:11 Is the Large-Volume Injection Market Getting Crowded? 14:28 The Chicken-and-Egg Problem With New Device Technologies 19:25 CDAs, Proprietary Information and Worki…