Pharma, Pharmaceutics and Biotechnology Conference

Formulations of drugs form the backbone of drug production: It decides how a drug is delivered, absorbed, and ultimately how it acts in the body. In this session, the principles of formulation science, or the science of formulation of drugs and pharmaceuticals, including the various dosage forms and influencing factors in developing safe and effective pharmaceutical products as well as delivery systems will be covered. Thus, it is regarded as both the art and a science of designing drug products to ensure attainment of the desirable therapeutic effects and patient safety and compliance in the vocabulary of formulation science.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a drug may also be influenced by the selection of formulation. ADME or the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties, therefore, depend on the knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of the API during its formulation development. There are also different types, such as the solid forms including tablets and capsules; liquids including syrups and injectable; and semisolids, including creams and gels.

All these offer unique challenges and opportunities for formulation scientists. For example, tablets are highly used because of stability, convenience of application; however, it requires excipients that allow compression, maximize bioavailability, and give the right release profile. Liquid preparations often have an advantage with bioavailability and better patient compliance, particularly for children.

However, liquid preparations generally require preservatives and stabilizers in order to have a shelf life and be effective. The delivery systems of drugs contribute to an enhanced therapeutic efficacy through improvement in this respect. Innovations in formulation technology, such as controlled-release and targeted delivery systems, can help modulate the release profile of a drug with a resulting therapeutic gain and minimization of side effects.

Formulations such as nanoparticle-based ones, liposomes, and micelles are some examples of advanced delivery systems for improving the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs and are likely to bring better outcomes for the patient.

The selection of the excipients inactive agents; they only act as vehicle for the active pharmaceutical ingredient has a lot to do with the success of the final formulation. Excipients have a direct influence on stability, release properties and patient acceptability. The regulatory requirements make provision for the safety evaluation of the excipients and its compatibility with the API-this complicates the process of formulation.

With the changing tides of the pharmaceutical arena, formulation scientists nowadays introduce biotechnology and nanotechnology to drug development. Biologics such as monoclonal antibodies and gene therapies require particularly adapted formulate methodologies for those to be stable and then more effective. In addition, progress in personalization requires unique formulations to be responsive to individual patients.

In this session, participants will learn basic principles of pharmaceutical formulations-the processes involved in developing various dosage forms and drug delivery systems. Discussions should encompass the challenges facing formulation development, the role of excipients, and new developments in formulation technology with a focus on improving therapeutic outcomes and patient compliance.