FEE-FOR-SERVICE FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT
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Persist combines AI-driven automation with an integrated robotic lab to accelerate formulation toward your QTPP. We can also coordinate with external partners for downstream studies and regulatory support.The data that trains our models comes from our own internal experiments. When you work with us, you own your data — we don't use it to improve our AI.
Already have designs in mind?
Run experiments from home with our Cloud Lab→Formulation is often limited by slow, manual iteration.
We accelerate it with AI-guided design and robotic execution.
OUR PROCESS
Built for high-throughput and efficiency.
Design with our AI suite
Our AI selects its recommended formulations to match your QTPP. It takes into account API properties, IID Limits, excipient compatibility, excipient bioactivity, nitrosamine management, and more.
Preformulation
We run a comprehensive suite of solid phase characterization and phys-chem tests.
Robotics build and test AI-designed formulations
Our robotic systems then build and test candidates overnight, turning idle lab time into continuous progress.
Feed results back to the platform
As new experimental data is generated, the AI learns from each outcome. It uses these insights to design the next set of formulations with greater precision.
Repeat until QTPP is met
Each cycle brings the formulation closer to the defined QTPP. Once the target is reached, we move the top candidates forward into animal studies.
THE PROBLEM
Why traditional formulation falls short.
Formulation is hard. With limited trial-and-error and specialized knowledge requirements, every experiment is slow, deliberate, and designed to minimize risk. Much of the critical knowledge remains held by individuals, making it difficult to transfer and scale efficiently.
Slow iteration cycles
Traditional CRO workflows are sequential, slowing optimization and delaying decisions.
Limited exploration
Teams often evaluate only a narrow set of conditions before making key decisions.
High cost of early mistakes
Weak formulation strategy leads to rework, delays, and lower downstream confidence.
THE SOLUTION
AI-guided formulation. Robotic execution.
Our platform provides a formulation knowledge base that enables teams to learn from every observation they make. Our robotic lab augments this knowledge base with real experiments done in our lab.
AI decision support
Our AI suite helps our formulators learn from legacy data.
Robotic data generation
We augment our experiments with formulation data that comes from our automation.
Self-optimizing lab
Data is constantly fed back into the platform, optimizing itself with each iteration.
DIRECT COMPARISON
Persist AI vs. Traditional CROs.
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| Criterion | Persist AI | Traditional CROs |
|---|---|---|
| Preclinical formulation scope | Integrated preformulation → formulation strategy → optimization in a single, iterative system | Sequential workflows across preformulation, excipient screening, and formulation development |
| Experimental throughput | In-silico screening across solubility, stability, and excipient combinations | Limited by manual lab capacity and batch-based experimentation |
| Formulation decision-making | AI-guided experiment design using prior data, physicochemical properties, and formulation constraints | Trial-and-error iteration with limited data coverage |
| Bioavailability & PK optimization | Designed early for bioavailability, release profile, and PK alignment with target product profile (QTPP) | Often addressed late after initial formulations underperform in vivo |
| Speed to viable formulation | Weeks to reach a PK-ready or in vivo–testable formulation | Months of iterative cycles to reach PK-enabling formulation |
| Cost to reach PK-ready formulation | Significantly reduced cost through experimentation and optimization | Typically $100K–$500K+ across iterative CRO studies |
CAPABILITIES
Modalities & formulations.
Cross-compatibility between drug modalities and the formulation technologies our platform currently supports.
| Modality | Microspheres | In Situ Depots | Amorphous Solid Dispersions | IV Parenterals | SEDDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Molecules | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Peptides | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| Antibodies & Proteins | ✓ | — | — | ✓ | — |
| Antisense Oligonucleotides | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
ANALYTICAL TOOLS
State of the art analytical instruments under one roof.
Our capabilities are continuously expanding as we integrate new analytical tools and automation workflows. If you don't see a specific method or formulation type listed, reach out — we may already support it or can rapidly develop it.
| Study | Study type | Instrument | Sample form | ASD | SEDDS | Microspheres | DEPOT | Injectables | TOPICAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assay, drug loading & content uniformity | Identity | HPLC / Spectrophotometry | S · SS · L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Purity & impurity profile | Identity | HPLC | S · SS · L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Residual solvent | Identity | Raman Spectrometry | L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Droplet / particle size & PDI — plate | Size | DLS, 96-well plate | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Droplet / particle size & PDI — cuvette | Size | DLS, cuvette | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Particle size by imaging | Size | Brightfield | S · SS · L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Surface morphology | Size | Scanning Electron Microscopy | S | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Ultrastructure | Size | Transmission Electron Microscopy | S · SS | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Internal porosity & depot structure | Size | X-Ray MicroCT | S · SS | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Sub-visible particle count | Size | Particle counter | L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Aggregation & quantitation | Size | Single-angle light scattering | S · SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Glass transition, melting & crystallinity | Solid state | Differential Scanning Calorimetry | S · SS | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Polymer–API miscibility | Solid state | DSC with Polarized Light Microscopy | S · SS | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Crystallinity screen | Solid state | Polarized Light Microscopy | S · SS | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Moisture content & uptake | Solid state | Moisture analyzer | S | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Viscosity | Flow | Viscometer | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Rheology profile — yield stress, thixotropy | Flow | Rheometer | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Injectability & syringeability | Flow | Rheometer with Viscometer | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Foam structure & stability | Flow | Dynamic Foam Analyzer | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Solubility & dissolution | Release | Dissolution apparatus with HPLC | S · SS · L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Supersaturation & precipitation | Release | Dissolution apparatus with HPLC | S · SS · L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Extended in-vitro release profile | Release | Dissolution apparatus with HPLC | S · SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| Burst release, 24 hours | Release | Dissolution apparatus with HPLC | S · SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
| pH | Stability | pH | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Turbidity & solution clarity | Stability | Turbidimeter | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Phase stability & separation | Stability | Brightfield with Turbidimeter | SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Not applicable to Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Freeze–thaw cycling | Stability | SALS with HPLC | S · SS · L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Not applicable to Microspheres | Not applicable to In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Accelerated stability hold | Stability | HPLC with Polarized Light Microscopy | S · SS · L | Available for Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Available for SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Available for Topicals & Semisolids |
| Endotoxin | Stability | Endotoxin analysis | L | Not applicable to Amorphous Solid Dispersions | Not applicable to SEDDS & Lipid Systems | Available for Microspheres | Available for In-Situ Depots | Available for Injectables & Parenteral | Not applicable to Topicals & Semisolids |
We support preclinical development including:
- Preformulation
- PK-enabling formulation development
- Early stability and compatibility testing
- Formulation studies to support GMP/CMC planning
- Drug product strategy for IND planning
We do not support clinical trials or late-stage development.
Persist AI is a preclinical formulation CRO, not a CDMO.
We do:
- Early formulation development
- Drug product strategy
- Screening and optimization
We do not do:
- Large scale manufacturing
- Commercial scale-up
No. We do not perform drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, toxicology, or clinical trials. We focus strictly on formulation and drug product strategy after a candidate is identified.
No. For fee-for-service formulation development, we don't train our AI models on your data. Your molecules, formulations, and results remain your proprietary information.
We support:
- Solubility and bioavailability optimization
- Excipient compatibility screening
- Delivery route selection (oral, IV, SC, IP)
- Stability and early drug product strategy
- Controlled and modified release design
We work with a wide range of systems, including:
- Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs)
- SEDDS / lipid-based systems
- Microspheres and in-situ depots
- IV and parenteral formulations
We work across:
- Small molecules
- Antibodies and biologics
- Peptides and protein therapeutics
- Nucleic acid therapies
GET IN TOUCH
Let's Discuss Your Formulation Needs
Tell us about the molecule, the constraint, or the target profile — we'll reply within one business day.