The University of Southampton and the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) are utilizing 3D printing technology to explore the production of personalized medications. This initiative is made possible by the M3DIMAKER 3D printer from FABRX, which is certified for pharmaceutical production. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the project aims to enable hospital pharmacists to manufacture patient-specific medications as needed.
Traditional pharmaceutical production follows standardized dosing, which is not always optimally suited to individual patient needs. This can be particularly problematic for children, elderly patients, and those with swallowing difficulties. By using 3D printing, medications can be customized in terms of dosage, shape, texture, and taste, making administration easier and improving adherence to treatment.
Dr. Andy Fox, Consultant Pharmacist for Medicine Safety at UHS, highlighted the significance of this milestone: “Introducing a 3D printing platform for the production of personalised dosage forms at our pharmacy positions Southampton as pioneers in this field. It opens the door to ground-breaking clinical trials that assess the transformative impact of this technology on patient compliance with treatment.”
The M3DIMAKER is being used in research projects at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and the Institute for Life Sciences. Early studies focus on optimizing antibiotic formulations for children by modifying taste and on tailoring doses for dementia patients to improve the administration of medications such as Donepezil, Galantamine, and Memantine.
Dr. Orestis Katsamenis, Biomedical Imaging and X-ray Histology Lead at the University of Southampton, emphasized the patient-first approach of these trials: “These trials go beyond conventional approaches, by evaluating the effectiveness of customised drug doses, sizes, shapes, and flavours of dosage forms. This will ensure precise dosage administration and patient-friendly delivery, which enhances medication adherence, especially among children and older people.”
The collaboration between FABRX and the University of Southampton underscores the potential of 3D printing for the pharmaceutical industry. By allowing hospitals to produce tailored medications on demand, this technology could fundamentally change how drugs are developed, manufactured, and administered.
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