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Organoleptic (i.e., sense-related) characteristics can have a significant impact on how closely patients adhere to any therapeutic regimen (1). Taste is one of the key factors that determine patient compliance [...], The goal of this project was to use complexation to develop a dual-drug resinate system, to mask the bitter taste of levocetirizine dihydrochloride and montelukast sodium. The maximum drug loading onto the resin, polacrilin potassium, USP (Tulsion 339) was found to be 1:3 drug-to-resin ratio. Box-Behnken design methods were used to study the effect of processing parameters such as swelling time ([X.sub.1]), stirring time ([X.sub.2]) and pH ([X.sub.3]), on cumulative percentage drug release. The cumulative percent drug release was found to be minimal at extreme pH values ([X.sub.3]) and at high values of swelling time (X) and low values of stirring time ([X.sub.1]). The maximum drug release was found at high values of stirring time, even at low values of swelling time. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to the cumulative percentage drug release to study the fitting and the significance of the model. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analyses of the optimized formulation (F3) confirmed the drug complex formation suggesting that this model can be used to optimize dual drug release. Finally, the dual-drug resinate was formulated into orally disintegrating tablets (ODT), whose quality was found to be within pharmacopoeial limits. Drug release rate studies of the tablets in simulated gastric fluid and in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) showed better results than the marketed formulation. Results suggest that dual-drug resinate can be a cost- effective and efficient method for masking unpleasant taste in dual drug formulations.

Excell Biotech is a contract manufacturer of cGMP proteins, viruses, antibodies and pDNA for biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. During the last few years, the company has had a major injection of [...]

ICSE 2003 is an exhibition aimed at a specific market area within the pharmaceutical industry--contract research organizations (CROs) and allied contract service companies. There is no other exhibition that offers [...]

It was interesting to hear about the EU Commission conduct dawn raids on a number of pharmaceutical companies in mid-January as part of an investigation into possible anticompetitive behaviour, which [...]

Let me begin by wishing you all the best for the New Year. Most people return from the festive break with a renewed sense of vigour and fresh plans for [...]

And so another year has passed; it seems that once you've reached the age of 30, your life accelerates at a very unnerving pace. Marriage, houses, kids ... they hit [...]

Unless you've had your head buried in the sand for last 10 years, you'll know that there is a dearth of blockbuster drugs in the pipeline. But many manufacturers are [...]

Let's face it, the pharmaceutical industry has never been under more pressure to manufacture drugs--a reduced pipeline of potential blockbuster drugs is threatening profits; consumers are being encouraged to sue [...]

Love them or loathe them (and the split is right down the middle), reality TV shows have found their niche in our lives. For many, the allure of watching social [...]

Feared by manufacturers, it can't be easy being a pharmaceutical inspector. Just looking at FDA, it's been widely reported that the Agency is under-funded, morale is low, personnel are poorly-trained, [...]

Attending (and sometimes speaking at) conferences is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of my job. Apart from exchanging industry news and views, and discovering what technology, trends [...]

It's a dilemma that has caused countless arguments and discussion over the years. Books have been written on the subject, scientists have tried using various formulae to solve the problem, [...]

I would like to apologize. I haven't written this column for a few issues; as with many of us, that most precious of commodities, time, has been in very short [...]

My job has many good points and just the occasional bad one. Overall though, the best part has to be the networking. I'm appreciative that as an Editor I get [...]

I consider myself to be a fit and healthy person. I go to the gym at least five nights a week and play football. I also (try to) eat healthily--though [...]

I feel that the European pharmaceutical industry is coming up to an important set of crossroads. Some might say it's even beginning to show signs of stalling before it even [...]

Online shopping has become something of a phenomenon during the past decade. Why bother trawling through shops when you can order just about anything online--you don't even have to leave [...]

Just after Christmas, I read a report in a newspaper describing how it is easier to contract HIV in the villages surrounding Zambia's Lake Mweru than it is to catch [...]

And so here we are again. Doesn't seem all that long ago when I was wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Now, what only seems like a few months on, [...]

I am amazed at how quickly 2005 has passed--far too quickly for my liking; however, I suspect that for some manufacturers (and regulatory bodies), 2006 cannot come around quickly enough. [...]

We are now well into the 21st century, and technology across a whole host of industries is moving at a breathtaking pace. Mobile phones can pretty much do anything; the [...]

One of the most important skills any editor must possess is the ability to listen to their audience--without feedback, we don't get an opportunity to develop our publications; to not [...]

API and fine chemicals companies in Asia are flexing their muscles in a bid to increase their market share in key territories. This has been demonstrated by India's Malladi Drugs [...]

Being the Managing Editor of Pharmaceutical Technology Europe involves a great deal of travelling, which has given me the opportunity to meet many, many people in the pharmaceutical industry. The [...]

Nanotechnology. A few years ago it was supposed to be the next biggest thing (pardon the pun). It was the way forward for many industries, but for the pharmaceutical industry [...]

The air of optimism surrounding the European biopharmaceutical industry seems to have dissipated, being replaced by a more pessimistic outlook. Globally, biopharmaceutical manufacturing has increased significantly during the last decade, [...]

Is it me, or are there too many exhibitions and events in this industry? Not a day goes by when an unsolicited e-mail comes through informing me of yet another [...]

Happy New Year! As is traditional at this time of year, we make resolutions that we keep for about a month. Do you actually stick to using that expensive gym [...]

I was very disappointed not to have been able to attend a recent press tour of France highlighting the country's burgeoning biotech industry--severe food poisoning from a holiday put paid [...]

In the last issue of Contract Services Europe (CSE), my editorial commented on the growth of the outsourcing industry, or rather my scepticism at some of the optimistic figures that [...]

The summer always goes by too quickly, and I hope you all enjoyed your holidays if you managed to get away. This autumn sees a new outsourcing event taking place [...]

The article announces the launching of the electronic magazine entitled "Pharmaceutical Technologist" at the CPhl exposition in Paris on September 2006. The digital publication is a fully interactive digital publication that will offer a global insight with market analysis, showcase of the latest industry trends, and offer commentary and opinions from leading people in the sector.

The good times are back, so it appears and the indications are that the pharmaceutical contract services industry is going through a phase of growth following a change in the global economic climate. India is fast becoming the place to be for contract services. Recently, two major contract services providers have announced plans For India and The Wall Street Journal estimates that the Indian clinical trials business will grow to $200 million by 2008, up from $70 million last year. European and North American companies are already feeling the impact of India's competition.