This week, SpeakPharma interviews Stefano Martinoli, Chief Executive Officer of Munit SA, a Swiss company that specializes in micronization of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other pharmaceutical compounds. Stefano Martinoli discusses Munit’s 60-year legacy, how micronization of APIs has improved therapeutic effects of drugs, and how the group is today a partner in drug development for its more than 150 global customers. He says innovation is a mindset at Munit, which is rooted in adaptability, foresight, and a deep culture of problem-solving.
Could you share Munit SA’s journey over the past 60 years and explain how you’ve built such a strong global presence with over 150 customers?
Munit’s story is one of innovation and vision. Our entrepreneurial journey began in 1918, rooted in powder handling and particle size engineering. The real breakthrough came in the 1960s, when my father pioneered the Spiral Jet Mill technology. In 1962, at the age of 24, he designed the first Spiral Jet Mill, placing us at the forefront of a field that would later revolutionize pharmaceuticals.
Initially, this technology served the fine chemical industry, but in the early 1970s my father foresaw its immense potential for healthcare. He realized that micronization, or the mechanical reduction of particle size of APIs, could directly improve patients’ lives by enhancing APIs’ solubility. Better solubility means faster therapeutic effects and fewer side effects, which are critical advances for patient well-being.
Founded in 1978, Microchem pioneered contract micronization in Italy before expanding into Switzerland to better serve global markets. In the late 1990s, we were the first in our field to introduce glove-box isolators for highly potent APIs, setting new safety standards. Today, under the Munit umbrella, Jetpharma (Switzerland) and Microchem (Italy) operate together, offering clients dual-site reliability that reduces supply chain risks and ensures business continuity.
Over the decades, this vision has guided us to become more than just a service provider: we are partners in drug development. What sets us apart is our dual expertise, both in the technology itself and in the science of micronization. We don’t just operate equipment; we adapt it to the unique properties of each API, customizing processes and technological solutions to achieve the highest-quality outcomes.
Today, with more than 150 global customers and six decades of proven excellence, Munit is recognized as a pioneer and a leader in pharmaceutical micronization. Our best-in-class processes, unmatched flexibility, and unrivaled expertise make us the go-to partner for companies that demand innovation, reliability, and speed in bringing their therapies to market.
HIGHLIGHTS// Story of innovation/micronization and better solubility/faster therapeutic effects/fewer side effects/advancement in patient wellbeing/partners in drug development
How does Munit foster innovation in micronization and particle engineering to stay ahead of evolving pharmaceutical needs?
For Munit, innovation goes far beyond simply maintaining technological leadership — it’s about anticipating what’s next and shaping solutions that meet tomorrow’s pharmaceutical needs. Innovation, to us, is not just about machines or methods; it’s a mindset rooted in adaptability, foresight, and a deep culture of problem-solving.
The pharmaceutical environment is constantly evolving: increasing molecular complexity, stricter regulations, and ever-higher patient expectations. To stay ahead, we focus on three pillars, responsiveness, vision, and precision. We respond rapidly to new challenges, forecast future trends to prepare our partners for what’s coming, and align seamlessly with regulatory shifts.
At the heart of our work is one simple mission: solving complex solubility challenges to enhance the bioavailability of APIs and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Positioned between API synthesis and final drug formulation, our role in the value chain is critical, ensuring that promising molecules become effective, reliable medicines.
What makes Munit different is that we don’t just provide technology; we deliver confidence. With decades of proven expertise, we give pharmaceutical companies what they need most: a reliable, long-term partner who can guarantee performance, consistency, and speed in the most demanding projects.
HIGHLIGHTS// Shaping solutions that meet tomorrow’s needs/innovation mindset/focus on responsiveness, vision, precision/reliable long-term partners
How does Munit ensure high-performance service delivery to its pharmaceutical clients?
At Munit, delivering high-performance service means going beyond technical proficiency — we ensure our clients achieve faster, safer, and more reliable results. Every project has its own challenges, and our strength lies in anticipating them and adapting with agility. This ability to align with client needs (whether in early-stage R&D or commercial-scale production) is what makes us a long-term partner in the pharmaceutical value chain.
Our teams bring decades of experience and specialized expertise that translate into concrete benefits for our clients: faster project turnaround, consistent compliance with global regulatory standards, and reduced risks across the supply chain. By combining deep process knowledge with flexibility, we help pharmaceutical companies accelerate time-to-market while safeguarding quality and repeatability.
As a family-owned business, our culture of trust and long-term commitment drives everything we do. This foundation allows us to guarantee continuity, responsiveness, and the reliability that global pharma companies require in their strategic partners. Simply put: with Munit, clients know their projects are in expert hands, from grams to tons, from R&D to commercialization.
HIGHLIGHTS// Going beyond technical proficiency/experience, expertise translate into benefits for clients/accelerate time to market
How does Munit leverage its advanced milling technologies to support customers in achieving optimal particle size and consistency, especially for complex APIs?
Munit holds a unique position in the market because we know how to adapt, refine, and customize processes to the exact needs of each API. Decades of experience across hundreds of molecules have allowed us to fine-tune our technology and ensure optimal efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability for our clients.
This expertise is especially critical when dealing with complex APIs. Pharmaceutical companies typically know the chemical properties of their compounds, but once those materials are transformed into powders, their physical behavior becomes a real challenge. That’s where Munit steps in. Our specialized know-how bridges this gap, ensuring particle size and consistency are precisely controlled, directly impacting solubility, bioavailability, and ultimately patient outcomes.
By combining scientific insight, technical know-how, and a quality-by-design mindset, we give our clients confidence that every process is optimized for efficiency, reliability, and patient benefit.
HIGHLIGHTS// Customize process to needs of each API/dealing with complex APIs/combining science with technical knowhow/quality-by-design mindset
With operations in both Switzerland and Italy, how do Munit’s dual sites contribute to reducing supply chain risk, lead times, or overall costs for clients?
Our dual sites in Switzerland and Italy give Munit a unique edge in supply chain resilience, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Recent investments — tripling Microchem’s footprint and expanding Jetpharma’s GMP warehouse capacity — enable us to handle growing demand while keeping lead times competitive. But infrastructure alone is not enough. By harmonizing quality systems, aligning operational standards, and driving a tailored digital transformation, we ensure that even the most complex APIs are managed with the highest reliability and efficiency. This integration across sites allows us to deliver the lean, responsive manufacturing that major pharma partners expect, while reducing risks and strengthening long-term partnerships.
HIGHLIGHTS// Supply chain resilience comes from dual sites/managing complex APIs with reliability, efficiency/long-term partnerships
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