How a researcher at the University of East Anglia is using Arburg's Freeforming Process in the additive manufacturing of personalised medicine.
Life expectancy is increasing worldwide due, in large part to advances in prevention, medical treatment and new pharmaceutical technologies. According to a 2019 report (US Pharm. 2019;44(7):33- 36), around 44% of men and 57% of women over the age of 65 take five or more drugs each week, with 12% of this age group taking at least 10. The majority of these pharmaceuticals are made with generic dosages of active ingredients and release patterns that do not necessarily address the individual patient’s needs. This can lead to over- or under-medication and unwanted side effects, and is seen as a problem by many patients.
Similarly, a 2016 report from the National Health Service in England, entitled “Improving Outcomes through Personalised Medicines,” found that tailored treatment that matches the individual patient’s makeup and response to pharmaceuticals is far more effective than symptom-driven, one-size-fits-all approaches and results in fewer side effects.