R&D at Hikma | Meet Mohammad Al-Hreebat, as we go inside formulation development at Hikma
In this employee story, we hear from Mohammad Al-Hreebat, Principal Scientist in Formulation Development, about his role in product launches and technology transfer, the challenges of moving products from development to commercial manufacture, and what inspires him about his work.
What is your name, role, and location?
I am Mohammad Al-Hreebat, a Principal Scientist in Formulation Development, based at Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ R&D site in Jordan.
Could you tell us about your day-to-day activities?
My work centres on new product launches and technology transfer: taking formulation and process knowledge from R&D to our manufacturing teams, then supporting every stage of production, from weighing materials to a finished product ready for release.
At each stage I check that activities comply with GMP requirements, approved procedures, and quality standards. I also review analytical testing results with colleagues to confirm that products meet their specifications.
I also support the preparation and review of key technical documents, from batch manufacturing records and packaging standards to validation protocols and in-process specifications.
Launches are a genuine team effort, bringing together production, quality, analytical, regulatory, packaging, and validation colleagues. It also means being on site with those teams across our locations in Jordan to keep each launch on track.
What are the key challenges and opportunities in your role?
The biggest challenge is the complexity of moving a product from development into commercial manufacturing while holding a firm line on quality, GMP compliance, and process robustness.
Every launch depends on close coordination between R&D, production, quality, planning, regulatory affairs, and supply chain. The process has to be well understood, well documented, and capable of delivering consistent quality.
Post-launch work brings its own challenges, from managing product variations to supporting regulatory submissions. It calls for a good grasp of international regulatory guidelines and the technical depth to explain the science behind our formulation and process decisions.
Those same challenges are what make the role rewarding. They stretch my technical and regulatory knowledge, and they connect my work directly to medicines that reach patients.
How would you describe working at Hikma?
Working at Hikma is dynamic, challenging, and genuinely rewarding. Quality, compliance, teamwork, and ownership sit at the centre of everything we do.
What I appreciate most is being involved in a product’s full journey, from R&D and technology transfer through to commercial production, launch, and beyond. It gives me a real sense of purpose, knowing my work helps deliver high-quality medicines to patients.
Hikma provides continuous exposure to complex projects, cross-functional collaboration, and international regulatory standards. Technical knowledge and a commitment to quality are valued here, and people are encouraged to learn and take ownership.
How does your work inspire you?
What inspires me most is seeing science become something tangible that can make a difference in people's lives.
There is real satisfaction in watching a formulation that began at the R&D bench move through technology transfer and manufacturing to reach patients. Every launch takes technical problem-solving and teamwork, and knowing I contributed gives me a strong sense of purpose.
I am also motivated by how much there is still to learn: every project, whether it is improving a process or working with a new team, is a chance to grow — and a chance to help make safe, effective medicines available to patients.
