SPI Pharma explores the advancements that are helping make drug dosage forms more patient-centric.
Next Level
Taking Orally Dispersible Dosages to the Next Level
In November 2019, it was heartening to read a New York Times article1 about the efforts of Cipla, an Indian drug manufacturer, to potentially save the lives of children living mostly in Africa. The simple switch of a combination HIV medication ritonavir–lopinavir–abacavir–lamivudine (Quadrimune) dosage into a strawberry-flavored, sprinkle-style form palatable for babies and toddlers, significantly improved compliance versus traditional tablets or an unpleasantly bitter syrup.
Over the last 20 years, formulations with a pleasant patient experience have grown into a significant portion of marketed medicines. Adhering to the regimen is as important a factor as the efficacy of a given medication. Development of patient-centric dosage forms addresses the psychological hurdle in the adherence portion of the efficacy equation. Developing a positive consumption experience for the patient includes characteristics such as taste, mouthfeel, tablet robustness, shape, size and presentation. Such properties are critical for patient-centric or more aptly, patient-preferred platforms which encourage drug regimen adherence and reduce missed dosages of less desirable forms. A formulator must be mindful of these properties when designing an Orally Dispersible Dosage form (ODD). Other practical considerations for manufacturing need to be considered; for example, formula stability, compressibility, friability, flow and blending.