Dosage Forms

An increasing number of new compounds are being introduced into pharmaceutical pilot plants.The knowledge base for these compounds regarding their toxicities,physical handling, and cleaning is limited.The authors examine various approaches for addressing the cleaning validation of new compounds and discuss the role of determining appropriate visible residue limits.

To meet the requirements of the USP ^755& Minimum Fill and ^698& Deliverable Volume tests, target fill levels greater than 100% must be established.This article proposes a criterion for establishing an appropriate target fill level such that a sample will have a 95% probability of passing these USP tests at 95% confidence.

The authors argue that chlorine dioxide (CD) is a safe and effective decontaminating agent that can be used for challenging applications.The effectiveness of CD gas for sterilizing complex isolator systems is studied.

The authors study the effects of sweet potato and cocoyam starches on the compressional and mechanical characteristics of a paracetamol tablet formulation using cornstarch BP.

Innovators and generics makers are staking out positions on follow-on proteins and other manufacturing issues.

X-ray microtomography has great potential for improving the understanding of the structural features of solid dosage forms and the changes in those features during manufacturing, handling, and storage. This article describes the basic principles of the technique and provides examples of its potential applications.

"Stable Liquid" Technology Permits Heptavalent Vaccine Against Botulism

UK MHRA Okays Chiron Flu Vaccine Plant; FDA Approval Still to Come

Big Pharma Companies Team Up to Develop Once-Daily, Triple-Combination HIV Drug

This article outlines a comprehensive approach for organizing a firm's aseptic operations, including planning for routine and nonroutine interventions, establishing effective process simulations, and determining which vials to incubate.

New fixed-dose combination drugs aim to enhance safety and efficacy, while regulators clear a path for more drug–device combination products.

The author points out some major obstacles to effective scale-up and describes methods available to pharmaceutical scientists for addressing scalability issues.

In the manufacture of many pharmaceutical products, dry-particle blending is a critical step that directly affects content uniformity.

Novartis to Expand Generics Hold

CBER Draft Guidance for Spore-Formers and Plasmid Vaccines

Extrusion-spheronization and pellet compression are effective means of developing first-order kinetic, controlled-release drug delivery systems of azithromycin (AZI). The authors prepared, evaluated, and optimized AZI formulations and assessed the stability of the selected formulation under accelerated storage conditions.

Pharmaceutical Science & Technology Innovations

Laser-Marking Technique Improves Tablet Branding

ISA-88 Automation Standard Gains IEC PAS Status

Albumin-Bound Nanoparticle Drug Nabs FDA Approval

MHRA to Reinspect Chiron Flu Vaccine Plant

Engineered Oilbodies Produce Vaccines and Adjuvants

Engineered Oilbodies Produce Vaccines and Adjuvants

The author reviews the effects of moisture on flow properties, tensile strength, Heckel plot, energies involved in compaction, and elastic recovery.

From solving complex formulation challenges to delivering full product-development programs, outsourcing services organizations provide valuable expertise, experience, and technical know-how.

The authors examine the effects of three superdisintegrants on the dissolution and absorption of tenoxicam from solid-dispersion formulations.

Microspheres of Eudragit RL were developed for colonic delivery of albendazole. The effects of polymer concentration, stirring rate, and concentration of emulsifier on particle size and drug loading were studied. A comparative in vitro drug release study of the optimized formulation was carried out.

Size reduction of materials through comminution is employed in many industries, including agrochemicals, minerals, ceramics and pharmaceuticals. The reasons for particle size reduction depend on the industry in question. Within the pharmaceutical industry, a large percentage of products are formed from powders and undergo processing to improve dosage form properties. Particle size reduction prior to compacting to tablets can aid with dissolution and homogeneity. Such processing of powders is, in part, dependent on their mechanical properties and balancing these properties is crucial in achieving desired manufacturing performance. Generally, pilot-scale milling trials are run to determine the most effective and efficient mill and operating conditions for each material. These trials, however, require relatively large quantities of material as well as time, and are normally run in early development when sufficient material becomes available. Hence, it would be highly beneficial to identify a physical property..

A discussion of the validation and operation of two commercially available vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide decontamination systems is presented, based on a hands-on examination of both systems.