Multiparticulate drugs are composed of multiple dosage units. They offer a number of advantages for the administration of drugs to geriatric patients, such as ease of swallowing and high degree of dose flexibility.
The US coating technology firm unveiled Opadry EC today, explaining it is an ethylcellulose-based coating system specifically designed for this type of specialized controlled release medicines.
A Colorcon spokeswoman also told us the technology can be adapted.
"The levels of polymer and pore-former in the formulations are standardised, which means formulators can use the coating “off-the-shelf” to customise release profiles" she said, adding that "There’s less operator error when it goes into production, as the ingredients are all pre-prepared."
"Modifying film porosity provides controlled release of low, medium and high solubility drugs. The resulting film is stable with high mechanical strength, as it uses organic solvent it’s suitable for moisture and or heat sensitive drugs."
The Colorcon spokeswoman also said: "The product can be supplied from any of Colorcon’s manufacturing facilities, it is available for customers around the world.
Last year, Transparency Market Research predicted that demand for drugs suited to elderly people would drive innovation and use of excipients in the oral solid dosage form (OSDF) market.
According to the analysts: “Facilitated by a global increase in geriatric population, particularly across leading economies such as Japan and the US, coupled with development of a new school of excipients that exhibit superior properties such as flow-ability, the global pharma excipients market is expected to create impressive opportunities for manufacturers to capitalize on in the near future."