Home Research & Education Texas A&M University: $2.8 million to develop 3D-printed drugs

Texas A&M University: $2.8 million to develop 3D-printed drugs

Researchers at Texas A&M University’s Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy have received a five-year, $2.82 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use 3D printers for pediatric medications.

Dr. Mansoor A. Khan, associate dean, Regents Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Presidential Impact Fellow, will work with Dr. Ziyaur Rahman, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, to develop dose-flexible antiviral products. These will be used in hospitals for pediatric drug needs.

“We are very optimistic that the 3D printing machines can actually be deployed in children’s hospitals with a clear pathway to compound very high quality and validated medications,” Reddy said.

This is the first time a multidisciplinary approach has been taken to provide 3D-printed medicines for children.

“It requires engineering the design and development of pediatric dosage forms, followed by pharmacokinetics and efficacy studies before deployment in children’s hospitals,” Rahman said.

“Many products are available for adults, not children, as it is not a great and profitable business for firms to make pediatric medications for few cases. Instead, a prescriber or pharmacist is forced to manipulate adult dosage forms to prepare pediatric dosages,” Khan said.

“That approved product was for a geriatric purpose. We realized it could be valuable for the pediatric population, too, as they need dosage flexibility because of changing age and growth. We teamed up as pharmacists, engineers, doctors, molecular biologists and biostatisticians to develop this rewarding proposal,” Khan said.

The project is being conducted by researchers* from various academic units at Texas A&M University. They include Dr. Matthew Kuttolamadom, Dr. Samikkannu Thangavel, Dr. Jennifer Fridley and Dr. Quan Zhou.

Khan and Rahman also have an active two-year NIH R56 grant for 3D printing of drugs.

For more information about the Texas A&M University at tamu.edu.


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