A medical professional holds a detailed anatomical model of a human brain while pointing at a specific region with a red pencil. In the background, two computer monitors display MRI brain scans with various cross-sectional images of the brain’s structure and blood vessels. The setting suggests a neurology or radiology environment.

Drug Delivery

Custom solutions for drug delivery devices and combination products.

Your drug is the star.

Our team creates innovative devices that combine your drug with optimal delivery methods for the most effective treatment.

With the rise of cell and gene therapies, biologics, and other complex treatment regimens, the demand for custom drug delivery solutions is increasing. Drug delivery devices enhance treatment effectiveness, improve patient compliance, and streamline the patient experience. To design and develop them effectively requires technical and scientific expertise, user experience design excellence, and well-coordinated program planning and execution. StarFish has the expertise and experience you’re looking for.

A young child wearing a striped blue shirt uses a nebulizer mask for respiratory treatment. The transparent mask covers their nose and mouth, with visible vapor coming from the device. The child looks upwards while holding the nebulizer, and the background is softly blurred, suggesting a home setting.

Proven Success in Drug Delivery Devices

StarFish Medical has successfully brought numerous drug delivery devices to market, particularly those designed for targeted drug delivery to organs or tumors, as well as combination products that enhance usability for at-home users.

Expertise in Physiology and Pharmacology

Our team of scientists and market experts possesses a deep understanding of the body’s physiology, drug stability, and pharmacological dynamics. This expertise allows us to quickly grasp the specific characteristics of your treatment. We collaborate closely with our engineers to develop the optimal solution tailored to the user and their environment, resulting in peak performance.

Comprehensive Drug Delivery Services

Our drug delivery services commence with product definition and extend through regulatory strategy and submission. Throughout the process, we align our efforts with your drug-device clinical trial programming. Additionally, we can manufacture devices for clinical trials in our class 10,000 cleanrooms and can scale up production beyond clinical trials by transferring to a dedicated contract manufacturer of your choice.

Innovative Outcomes for Our Clients

We partner with startup entrepreneurs and leading pharma companies to develop a wide range of drug delivery devices and systems. Here are a few highlights. For the full story, review the case study or contact us for details.

Nebulizer for Respiratory Tract

We developed a portable, battery-powered nebulizer with a powerful compressor system for targeted drug delivery to the respiratory tract.

Intranasal Delivery to the Brain

Our device non-invasively targets the olfactory region in the nasal cavity, delivering drugs directly to the brain without needles.

Stereotactic Drug Delivery to the Brain

We supported the development of a system for targeted delivery of biologics into deep brain tissues, guided by intra-operative MRI.

Stem Cell Injection to the Spine

Our device, used in clinics today, delivers progenitor stem cells to the spine for ALS treatment, compensating for pulmonary and cardiac motions.

Ingestible Capsule for Targeted Delivery

We developed an ingestible capsule with auto-location technology for targeted drug delivery in the gut, protecting sensitive drugs from stomach acids.

Minimally Invasive Implant

We supported the manufacturing of an implant that protects encapsulated cell therapies without conventional immunosuppression.

Radiotherapy Infusion Pump System

We designed a large-scale infusion pump system for cancer therapies, improving the user experience for healthcare professionals and patients.

Intradermal Drug Delivery Device

Our device provides quick and pain-free intradermal injections for drugs or aesthetic treatments.

Explore Our Services

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Product Design & Development

Our multidisciplinary teams have all the in-house capabilities to transform your medical device from concept to final product.

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New Product Introduction and Manufacturing

Medical device design and development with a commercial launch focus. See how we support clinical trials and facilitate seamless tech transfers.

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Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs

We help you navigate complex regulatory landscapes to achieve commercial success. Explore our integrated approach to quality and regulatory services.

The StarFish Advantage

From conceptualization to prototype development to manufacturing support, our multidisciplinary teams of PhD scientists and engineers work together to exceed your expectations.

Here’s what you can expect:

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Custom solutions for better treatments

Custom combination products require a tailored strategy. At StarFish Medical, we have the expertise and capabilities to deliver the right solution at the right time, no matter how complex the device.

Your milestones, our mission

We align our deliverables with your milestones. Whether you need a device ready for preclinical or clinical trials or for the next fundraising round, we’ll get you there.

In-house usability testing and human factors engineering

Our engineers take a user-centric design approach. We focus on industrial design, human factors, and usability early to make sure we design the right solution for the right user.

Managing complex programs using an agile approach

We combine agile project management with scientific methods to meet your clinical objectives. Proven processes and a rigorous quality management system (QMS) are embedded in everything we do.

Design for seamless manufacturing

We use a design-for-manufacturing process to ensure your product—no matter how complex—will be ready for manufacturing and assembly. To minimize transitions, we build devices for clinical trials in our dedicated class 10,000 cleanrooms. If needed, we also support transfers to a large contract manufacturer of your choice or to one of our dedicated partners.

Engineering informed by science

Our leadership team includes scientists and bioengineers with a deep understanding of the underlying physiology and biology. Our technical experts understand the interplay between the device and the pharmaceutical that is delivered.

Our Facilities

With ISO-certified facilities in Irvine, Vancouver, and Toronto, StarFish Medical is well-equipped to produce enabling technologies in-house.

  • Advanced Rapid Prototyping Capabilities
  • BSL2 Laboratories for V&V Testing
  • ISO 13485-Certified Facilities
  • Class 10,000 Clean Rooms
  • FDA-Registered Flexible Manufacturing Facility
  • Support for Custom IQ-OQ-PQ Procedures
  • Support for Pilot-Scale Manufacturing and Clinical Trials
  • Support for Transfers to Contract Manufacturing Partners

Explore Other Sectors We Serve

Diagnostics

From remote diagnostics to powerful imaging systems, we design and develop diagnostics for use inside or outside traditional healthcare settings.

Therapy Devices

From emergency ventilators to home-based therapies, we support hundreds of therapy devices for use inside or outside the clinic.

Two men sit at a table in a discussion, with one holding a frozen soda can. The background features a whiteboard with faint writing, and snowflake graphics are scattered around the image. The text overlay reads, "The Science of Freezing Cells" in bold black and purple letters.

Bio Break: The Science of Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation is essential in biological research, regenerative medicine, and stem cell therapies. But freezing biological materials isn’t as simple as placing them in a freezer. Nick and Joris dive into this fascinating process in this episode of Bio Break, using a real-world example—Nick’s frozen beverage can, which burst due to water expansion.

Two men sit at a table discussing glucose monitors, with the text "How Glucose Monitors Really Work" overlaid on the image. One man gestures while speaking, and both have coffee mugs labeled with their names. The background features a whiteboard with blurred writing.

Bio Break: Understanding Continuous Glucose Monitors

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are revolutionizing how people track blood sugar levels in real time. But how do they work, and where exactly do they measure glucose? Nick and Joris explore the science behind CGMs, explaining the difference between blood glucose monitoring and interstitial fluid measurement.

Common Mistakes for Medical Device Projects A businessman wearing a blue suit and an orange tie is pointing at a transparent virtual interface with hexagonal icons. The central hexagon displays the words "REGULATORY COMPLIANCE." Surrounding it are four smaller hexagons with white icons, including a scale inside a gear (symbolizing legal and ethical standards), a stack of binders (representing documentation), a checklist (indicating compliance requirements), and a person next to a legal symbol (denoting regulatory oversight). The background is blurred with a brick wall visible.

Common Mistakes for Medical Device Projects

Common mistakes in medical device projects can create roadblocks that, if left unchecked, can snowball into costly setbacks.