Future of Pharmaceutical R&D Requires Innovative Dosage Formulations, Industry Survey Shows

Highlights Formulation Knowledge Gap for Challenging Compounds and Outsourcing Priorities

MORRISTOWN, N.J. and BORNEM, BELGIUM, October 9, 2012 – A survey of 500 pharmaceutical industry influencers reveals that four out of five surveyed (82%) believe innovative dosage form technologies are required to meet the needs of today’s pharmaceutical research and development challenges. Three-quarters (76%) are actively investigating strategies to improve pharmaceutical products by adding drug delivery functionality, such as patient-centric dosing, combination therapy and controlled release options.  And when asked to rank the top three key drivers of innovative dosage forms, patient safety was the top priority followed by combination therapies and controlled release. 

“This survey provides critical insights into R&D needs in terms of dosage innovation and outsourcing decisions today and in the future,” said Nigel Walker, Managing Director of Nice Insight, a pharmaceutical industry market intelligence company.  “This type of understanding is fundamental to interpreting the innovation likely to be required to meet evolving patient-centric dosage needs driven by healthcare trends.” 

Commissioned by Capsugel and conducted by an independent market research company, the survey of influential decision-makers in the pharmaceutical industry captures current opinions on dosage form innovation.  Many of those surveyed are attending the ICSE/CPHI 2012 conference that kicks-off this week in Madrid and the American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences Annual Meeting and Exposition (AAPS) next week in Chicago. The survey was fielded in September 2012 and incorporates responses from both Europe and the US. 

FORMULATION KNOWLEDGE GAP AND OUTSOURCING PRIORITIES
The development of suitable drug formulations and delivery systems remains a major challenge and there is an increasing need for outsourcing to fill the knowledge gap.  More than half (58%) of the companies indicated that they outsource dosage form development. Poorly soluble compounds represent a very high proportion of the industry’s development pipeline.  Yet survey respondents cited only moderate expertise on specific technologies related to poorly soluble compounds, specifically lipid drug delivery technologies.  Half (50%) reported plans to specifically outsource lipid drug delivery technologies for poorly soluble compounds.

“The survey findings reinforce Capsugel’s focus on lipid-based technologies to address many of the challenges presented by poorly soluble compounds.  We work with customers to develop specialized approaches to address unique lipid-based formulations needs at our world class centers based in Europe and the U.S.,” said Hassan Benameur, PhD, Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Capsugel and elected chairman of the Lipid Formulation Classification System Consortium. 

Full results of the 2012 Global Industry Outsourcing Survey will be available at the CHPI/ICSE Capsugel booth #8F06 and the AAPS Capsugel booth #2011.

ABOUT CAPSUGEL
Capsugel is a global leader in innovative dosage forms and solutions for the healthcare industry.  Offering a comprehensive array of products and services, from hard gelatin, liquid-filled, and vegetarian capsules, to innovative R&D product development services, Capsugel is at the forefront of drug delivery innovation providing support to customers from formulation to final production.  For more information about Capsugel, visit www.capsugel.com.
 

For more information, contact Alyssa Augustine, Director of Communications at +1-860-389-0868.