251 - The Future of Drug Delivery: Orals, Injectables, Sustainability & Device Strategy

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 Working With New Suppliers

22:31 How Do You Sell a Drug Delivery Device in 2026?

29:17 Why Drug Delivery Is Still “Sexy”

31:20 Oral Drugs, Adherence and the Mucinex Horse Pill

33:18 Reusable Devices and Human Factors

35:22 Sustainability as a Drug Delivery Market Force

39:32 Cartridge vs. Prefilled Syringe

43:57 If You Had to Bet on One Drug Delivery Trend Through 2035

46:55 IV Drugs and the Shift Toward Subcutaneous Delivery

49:15 Steven’s Book Recommendation: Make Your Bed

51:22 Where to Find Steven

Steven Kaufman Bio

Steven Kaufman is the Founder of Combination Product Solutions, Inc. and a drug delivery and combination product executive with more than 21 years of industry experience.

His career has spanned device strategy, commercialization, business development, consulting, executive leadership, and entrepreneurship. Steven has held senior roles across the drug delivery industry and today works with device companies, biotech and pharmaceutical organizations, and investors on commercialization, technology strategy, platform evaluation, and bringing new drug delivery technologies to market.

Steven also serves as fractional Chief Commercial Officer at Portal Instruments.

Connect with Steven

Website: Combination Product Solutions

Email: info@combinationproductsolutions.com

LinkedIn: Steven Kaufman on LinkedIn

Subhi Saadeh Bio

Subhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let’s Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations, and R&D, he has worked in large medical device and pharmaceutical organizations supporting the development and launch of hardware devices, disposable devices, and combination products for vaccines, generics, and biologics.

For questions, inquiries, consulting, or episode suggestions:

Website: Let’s Combinate

LinkedIn: Subhi Saadeh on LinkedIn

Email: subhi@letscombinate.com

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