OSD

Modified-release dosage forms present new opportunities for drug developers and can help overcome challenges, such as short biological half-life or poor bioavailability due to degradation in the stomach.

As a result of the ability to control a medicine’s release profile, modified release products can achieve clinical objectives beyond those of a conventional formulation with the same drug.

The ability to control the rate or even the site of release of the API is one of the key reasons why modified release is becoming increasingly popular. Unlike immediate-release formulations, which provide a rapid effect, modified release dosage forms can extend the time the medicine remains active, or drug release until a drug reaches a specific area.
There are several different ways to achieve modified release. One such way is to develop a multiple unit formulation. These consist of coated pellets of APIs combined within a capsule—or a tablet. Modified release can also be achieved using matrix tablets—where the API is homogeneously dispersed in an insoluble or gelling excipient. They may also consist of a tablet coated with a release-controlling polymer.

In an article with PharmTech, our Senior Director, Technology Officer & Strategic Investments, Torkel Gren, explores the benefits drug developers can experience working with modified release specialists and how they can become confident that they have the tools they need to deliver modified release innovations effectively.

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