Hikma R&D. Innovation in formulation development. Meet Hamza Qassim
Discover what it's like to work at Hikma through our employee testimonials. Hear from Hamza, as he shares what it's like to work as a Senior Scientist in the Formulation Development team at our R&D hub in Jordan.
What is your name, role, and location?
My name is Hamza Qassim, and I am a Senior Scientist in R&D, working in Formulation Development. In my role, I specialise in oral oncology and potent drug products. My work contributes to the development of complex pharmaceutical formulations.
Could you tell us about your day-to-day activities?
My day-to-day work focuses on the development of oral solid dosage forms, particularly for oncology and highly potent compounds. This includes formulation design, excipient selection, process development, and scale-up activities, as well as evaluating critical quality attributes for the drug products.
I work closely with cross-functional teams, including analytical development, process engineering, quality, and manufacturing to ensure formulations are robust, scalable, and compliant with regulatory expectations. A key part of my role is troubleshooting technical challenges, interpreting development data, and translating scientific knowledge into practical, manufacturable solutions.
What are the key challenges and opportunities in your role?
One of the main challenges in my role is working with complex molecules, particularly oncology APIs which can present low solubility, stability challenges, and strict containment requirements. Developing safe, effective, and patient-friendly formulations under these constraints requires both scientific rigor and innovative problem-solving.
At the same time, this complexity creates valuable opportunities to continuously develop technical expertise, apply advanced formulation strategies, and contribute to medicines that make an impact on patients’ lives.
How would you describe working at Hikma?
Working at Hikma is a challenging, empowering, and growth oriented. Hikma provides a strong platform where scientific expertise is valued, and individuals are trusted with meaningful responsibilities. There is a clear sense of purpose in what we do, particularly knowing that our work supports access to high-quality medicines worldwide.
What I appreciate most is the collaborative culture and the exposure to diverse, complex projects. Hikma encourages continuous learning, innovation, and ownership, which creates an environment where professionals.
