At Aspire Pharmaceuticals, we believe that the future of health lies in the fusion of science, precision, and purpose. Born from a desire to rethink what’s possible in softgel and liquid capsule manufacturing, we are not just a CDMO — we are a true innovation partner for the world’s most forward-looking dietary supplement and OTC brands.
Aspire Pharmaceuticals was established more than a decade ago with the sole purpose of bringing innovation and excellence to the encapsulation category. Billions of softgel later, the business has grown exponentially with a customer roster that represents some of the most influential players in the nutritional supplement and OTC industries.
Aspire’s passion in the encapsulation space has moved beyond softgel to include liquid capsules and liposome technology, all of which allow us to offer a larger variety of solutions to customers.
Aspire’s journey started in 2009 and a decade later has established itself of the go-to CDMO (contract development-manufacturing organization). Our strength lies in providing customized product solutions with an extremely nimble team structure that allows us to deliver results quicker and more efficiently compared to competitors.
As a center of excellence for encapsulation we know how to consistently optimize the process all while providing our clients with the most innovative products that meet their aspirations.
As a leader in the development AND manufacturing of softgel and liquid capsule supplements and OTC products,we take that role with pride. Our promise to you is that we will never stop asking the question: How can we do it better? We’ve been asking that very same question each year since our inception.
Aspire’s team of experts will meet with you to optimize your product journey. With decades of experience, our team knows the importance of blending market expertise with science to bring products to market quickly and effectively, so you get the best return on your investment.
Founder & CEO
Director of Manufacturing
Vice President of Business Development
R&D Nutritional Director
Senior Director of Quality
Director of Pharmaceutical Development
VP Sales
Director of Supply Chain
“Innovation is at the
core of our business.”
In 2009, Madhav Pai had a vision — to create a quality softgel business that also inspires customers to think outside the pill. His dedication to seeking innovative technologies and processes, has enabled Aspire to attract some of the biggest CPG customers in the world. Today he sets his sights on becoming one of the most important global players in the business by combining his company’s drive toward manufacturing excellence and its desire to keep things innovative.
“My sole goal is to deliver high-quality products to our customers."
Bharat Patel has more than three decades of experience in the encapsulation business, 13 of which have been spent with Aspire. His varied background has allowed him to develop a strong sense of how to adapt in today’s marketplace. He says Aspire has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and that he enjoys the fast-paced environment. As the Director of Manufacturing at Aspire, Bharat’s aim is to uphold Aspire’s goals of delivering high-quality products, which he takes very seriously. On a personal level, Bharat enjoys coming to work every day for the positive and family-like connections with his co-workers.
"We are interested in building long-term partnerships with our customers, working closely with them to develop novel formulations and solutions that meet their aspirations."
Business development is the engine that creates long-term growth and profitability for Aspire. In fact, creating new market opportunities is precisely what has allowed Aspire to grow and expand in new directions during the last decade. These opportunities have been driven by the attention and support cultivated by Aspire’s business development team, which today is led by industry veteran Darrec Jones. Generating new ideas to help customers stand out and succeed in a very crowded marketplace is a tall order, which is why smart strategies and strong partnerships are integral to the health of Aspire and its customers. Business development works across all departments at Aspire to find new ways of creating products, improving manufacturing efficiencies, and identifying strategic partners to open new markets.
"Providing customized formulation support and continuing product and process improvement are integral to customer success."
Ankit Gajjar has more than a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical industries, specifically in softgel manufacturing R&D. Ankit spent his early years at Aspire overseeing manufacturing and production activities and is currently responsible for formulation R&D. During this time, he has successfully launched several complex softgel formulations. What does he love about Aspire? Above all, the company culture, vision and flexibility.
"Team Aspire is all about ensuring pharmaceutical excellence through uncompromising quality and compliance."
Niraj Patel is a seasoned pharmaceutical quality leader with 16+ years of industry experience. As a quality professional, he has worked extensively across various dosage forms (Liquids, Oral Solid Dosage, Ointments, Gels, Injectables Combination drug products, Biologics), primarily in prescription (Rx) space, ensuring compliance and excellence in drug product manufacturing. His expertise spans quality systems, regulatory requirements, and process improvements. Coming to Aspire, he transitioned into the dietary supplements and over the counter (OTC) segment, bringing his deep knowledge to new healthcare categories. Committed to upholding the highest quality standards, he continues to drive innovation and compliance in the evolving pharmaceutical landscape.
"Aspire is an established company with start-up mindset that is always seeking improvement through innovation and optimization."
With more than 20 years of pharmaceutical experience under her belt, Julia maintains a deep well of knowledge when it comes to various dosage forms — i.e., injectables, OSD, softgel, emulsions, nasal spray, etc. — for both small molecules and biologics. She has written and received more than 30 ANDA (abbreviated new drug application) submissions and approvals. She also has more than 10 years of softgel formulation and process development experience. Julia’s favorite part about working for Aspire is the collaborative atmosphere and family-oriented environment.
"At Aspire, we are lean and very nimble, which means we can react swiftly and adopt changes that make sense immediately."
Sean Weeks has been with Aspire since 2018 and is responsible for the OTC business. In his previous role as COO, Sean led the Operations team and helped establish the on-site packaging lines. His background spans more than 30 years with several multinational companies, such as Purecap and Reckitt Benckiser, in a variety of roles including sales, marketing, business development and operations. His favorite part about Aspire is the family-like culture and colleagues, who are supportive, caring, kind and hardworking, and who maintain a shared goal of ensuring Aspire’s customers get the great service they deserve.
"Customer service is not what you do, but who you are."
Oksana Ivanova joined Aspire 12 years ago, starting in the quality assurance department. Today, she manages the company’s supply chain, where she oversees the procurement, purchasing, planning, and customer service departments. Oksana loves the customer and supplier relationships in this big but tightknit industry. She also says working at Aspire has pushed her to think outside the box, which in turn has helped her grow personally and professionally. When Oksana is not in the office, you can find her spending quality time with her family, out for a bike ride, or globe-trotting on vacation.
