Solving the Problem of Insolubility: Medicine Maker Interview Series
Part 1
Poor solubility has become one of the most persistent barriers in modern drug development as discovery tools unlock increasingly complex molecules. In this first installment of a three-part series with The Medicine Maker, AustinPx CEO Elizabeth Hickman and CSO Dave Miller explore why insoluble compounds are becoming more common across drug pipelines. The article traces how advances in discovery technologies, from structure-based design to AI-driven screening, are expanding access to powerful targets while simultaneously creating new formulation challenges. It also introduces the evolving role of enabling technologies such as amorphous solid dispersions in bridging the gap between discovery and deliverability.
Part 2
In the second installment of this series with The Medicine Maker, Elizabeth Hickman and Dave Miller explore how solubility challenges extend beyond discovery and into manufacturing. The discussion focuses on KinetiSol™ technology and how its solvent-free, high-energy mixing process converts poorly soluble crystalline drugs into stable amorphous dispersions. By using mechanical energy rather than large volumes of organic solvent, the technology enables the formulation of compounds that are otherwise difficult or impossible to process with conventional approaches. The article also traces the origins of KinetiSol and explains how its particle characteristics can improve both dissolution performance and downstream manufacturability.
Part 3
In the final installment of this series with The Medicine Maker, Elizabeth Hickman and Dave Miller discuss what comes next for KinetiSol™ technology and the evolving role of CDMOs in modern drug development. As research continues, the technology is showing potential beyond oral delivery, including applications in parenteral and inhalation therapies. The conversation also explores how advances in AI-driven discovery and the rise of smaller biotech innovators are reshaping the development landscape. In this environment, CDMOs play an increasingly critical role in bridging the gap between promising molecules and manufacturable medicines that can reach patients.