The first medicine that is printed with 3D printers is now approved in the United States. In the long term herons tailor medicines at lower cost than today.
In August announced that the US authorities Food and Drug Administration that they approved a medication for epilepsy made with 3D printers. Behind medicine is Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, which developed the drug Spritam to solve the problems that exist with the current treatments.
– Many epileptics have a strongly negative perception of the medicines that have been available so far. They think that they are too large and difficult to swallow. Furthermore, they believe that it will take time before the tablets start working. This leads to some patients not taking care of their medication, says Don Wetherhold, CEO of Aprecia Pharmaceuticals.
He says that the printed the tablets can be smaller than otherwise, and that a new technology has made them more fast-acting.
– From 50 own patents we have developed a proprietary method that we call Zipdose Technology Platform. Thanks to it, we have managed to pack 1000 mg of active ingredient in a single tablet. Unlike conventional tablets that are hard and therefore takes time before they are dissolved, our tablet very porous in its composition. The dissolved with a small sip of water.
It is not just in the US that you research on the use of 3D printers to manufacture pharmaceuticals. Several scientific institutions in Britain examining the possibilities of 3D-print tablets in precise doses, such as 425 mg instead of 500 mg. The technology also opens up the possibility to pack more active substances in one tablet. Then the patients with multiple illnesses could take a tablet instead of ten.
In Germany, announced the start-up company 3D Printer Drug Machine recently they have developed a prototype of a 3D printer, especially for medications. Company Head Mahmudur Rahman are pharmaceutically nine years.
– We use polymer fibers that we developed specifically for medical manufacturing. Medications can be tailored, wastage is minimal and the costs are low, he says.
The market price will probably end up being around $ 300.
– Our technology would do tremendous benefit in rural areas and developing countries, says Mahmudur Rahman.
Teknikbolagen are optimistic, but elsewhere hear critical voices. If that technology would make it even more difficult to eradicate illegal drug production.
Gregory Higby is a professor at the University of Wisconsin and Director of The Institute of the History of Pharmacy and has other objections. He believes that equipping the pharmacy with 3D printers would be like going back 100 years in time when pharmacists themselves mixed the pills, he tells the magazine The Atlantic.
Description: Michael Dee
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