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Spray Drying Method for Taste Masking Applications

Technology Benefits

Morepalatable medicationsIncreasesmedication adherence/compliance Especiallybeneficial for pediatric and geriatricpatientsMicron-sizedparticles can be easily swallowed and are sufficiently small to avoidgrittiness in the oral cavityNosweeteners requiredManufacturingprocess is simple and easy to scale upEncapsulatesbitter drugs without modifying its chemical properties thus not affectingdissolution and absorption of the drugNoorganic solvents required

Detailed Technology Description

A noveltaste masking technology based on spray drying.

*Abstract

Thedrug delivery platform developed using this technology can be applied to a widerange of drugs and the taste masked particles can readily be incorporated intoa variety of oral dosage forms suitable for pediatric patients, includingsuspensions, orally dissolving tablets, other multi-particulate systems, andorodispersible films. This taste masking technology has the potential to becomethe industry standard approach for taste masking.

*Background

Many drugs are bitter and overcoming this bittertaste is a major barrier in developing a successful product for pediatricpatients. Compliance rates as low as11% have been reported in children due to palatability/taste as well asswallowability, and dose flexibility issues. As a result, there existsan unmet need for palatable formulations for drugs delivered orally.Various strategieshave been applied to pharmaceutical products to try to improve taste andpalatability. Historically, sweeteners and flavors have been used to altertaste perception. More effective approaches to taste masking involve completelyisolating the offensive drug from taste buds in the mouth, either by coatingtablets or filling the drug into capsules. Unfortunately, these approaches arenot useful for pediatric patients, as swallowing the product can be an issue. Otherapproaches for taste masking include modifying drug solubility through complexationwith ion exchange resins or cyclodextrins. The success of these approaches,however, is highly dependent on the chemical properties of the drug and thusare not applicable to a wide range of drugs. Moreover, these approaches couldpotentially alter drug dissolution and subsequently absorption followingingestion.

Country/Region

USA