Merck KGaA, AMCM/EOS co-operate in 3D printing of tablets
A cooperation agreement between German pharma firm Merck KGaA and additive manufacturing specialist AMCM on 3D printing of tablets could eventually lead to scalable active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) formulation and faster, cheaper production, the two companies said Thursday.
The pharma industry sees much potential in 3D printing technology as it offers potential solutions to the challenges around producing personalised medicines and tailored dosages. AMCM offers customized additive manufacturing solutions and is a sister company of 3D printing leader EOS.
The partnership will initially target GMP-compliant tablet formulation development and production for clinical trials before extending to commercial manufacturing services.
“Our partnership with AMCM/EOS could revolutionize the way tablets are produced. It will be a massive move towards digitalization of the industry,” said Isabel de Paoli, chief strategy officer at Merck. “Our goal is to develop the industrial application of this technology, which we will make available for clinical trials first, and then move to full digital solutions at commercial scale.”
Marie Langer, CEO of EOS said the co-operation combines Merck’s formulation and excipient expertise with AMCM's additive manufacturing know-how to "help make drug development more flexible and faster.”
The basis of the technology is using powder bed fusion methods -- whereby a laser melts and fuses powder together layer by layer -- to simplify the clinical development process of drugs, the firms said.
It is hoped that 3D printing will make API formulation scalable while avoiding costly reformulations throughout pharmaceutical development and commercial production processes.
According to the two companies, the vision is to achieve flexible and sustainable local tablet production that meets specific market requirements as well as adapting to patient needs.
A project teams at Merck's Innovation Center at its Darmstadt headquarters is working on next-generation tablet manufacturing through 3D printing.
Related News
-
News Eli Lilly gets ready to launch five new drugs in 2023
Eli Lilly, the American pharmaceutical company (IN, USA) are gearing up for a big year ahead, with hopes to launch five new drugs and capitalise on growing obesity and Alzheimer’s disease markets. -
News Amgen buys Horizon for $27.8 billion in bold step into the rare disease market
Amgen Inc buys pharmaceutical company Horizon Therapeutics in a multibillion-dollar deal, in hopes to capitalise on it's portfolio of drugs in the highly sort after rare disease market. -
News Pharma Supply Chain People Moves
The latest appointments and promotions across the pharmaceutical supply chain. -
News Merck to donate new Ebola vaccine to defend against outbreaks in Uganda
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has announced they will be speeding up the processing of a new vaccine against the latest strain of the Ebola virus, to be donated to a global non-profit organisation for distribution -
News CPHI Podcast Series: Driving innovation with pharmaceutical startups
The latest episode in the CPHI Podcast Series explores how startups are driving innovation by taking high-risk approaches and doing business with greater agility. -
News Greener and efficient processes: Quaternary Ammonium Salts
Quaternary Ammonium Salts play a crucial part in Organic Chemistry processes at many major industries. Discover why.
-
News Biosimilars save patients $11B annually, but barriers to adoption remain in US market
Biosimilars introduce competition into the biologics market, driving down prices and increasing patient access. -
News WHO recommends use of two monoclonal antibody treatments against Ebola
The health body recommended use of treatments by Regeneron and Ridgeback Bio
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance