Q: How has demand for multilayer tablets altered in recent years? What factors have influenced this trend?
Marcus Behrens
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Behrens: Fixed dose combination drugs are becoming increasingly popular, particularly as lifecycle management strategies seek to extend
intellectual property and minimise generic exposure by creating an innovative dosage form. The multilayer tablet is a viable
way to combine different actives for a synergic therapeutic effect, or different formulations of the same active in order
to achieve a specific release profile. Furthermore, multilayer tablets can avoid interactions between different drugs and
optimise each formulation in terms of pharmacokinetics and manufacturability.
Calvin: The growth of high-potency and combination drug products over the last decade has made multilayer and tablet in tablet (core
tablet) hot topics in the pharma industry. These novel delivery systems have been essential not only in formulating new products,
but also in helping pharmaceutical companies to extend patents.
CSA Plastock/Getty Images
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Ethirajan: Among other advantages, triple-combination therapy in a single-dosage form is being used to promote better treatment adherence
by providing a convenient single tablet. As well as increasing patient compliance, multilayer tablets can help to reduce the
cost of medication.
