Developing industrially viable cocrystallization technology
- Reference number
- SM10-0001
- Start and end dates
- 110501-150930
- Amount granted
- 1 225 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Luleå University of Technology
- Research area
- Life Sciences
Summary
The proposed exchange project is connected to material science and product development aspects of novel therapeutic molecules. One of the recent technologies that emerged to address poor solubility of new chemical entities is cocrystallization, which attempts to convert poorly soluble drugs into more soluble solid forms by co-crystallizing them with highly soluble counter molecules. Though the potential of the technology has been demonstrated, issues related to the stability of cocrystals during dosage form processing, storage and performance limit their industrial application. Therefore, the main objective of the project is to develop strategies in adressing these issues, and thereby contribute to the development of industrially applicable cocrystal technology. The exchange scientist will closely work with experienced and leading scientists at Boehringer-Ingelheim. The project can lead to the development of improved and viable technology to address industry wide problem in formulating poorly soluble drugs. The scientist gets overview of new drug product development process, and gains understanding of emerging challenges involved and innovative strategies employed. This exchange provides a good platform for future collaborations and initiation of research programs between industry and academia. The knowledge and experience gained will help in designing industrially relevant and goal oriented projects, thus benefiting Swedish pharmaceutical and material science industry.
Popular science description
The proposed project is a mobility from academia to industry, Boehringer-Ingelheim Phatmaceutical Inc USA and the project is planned for two years on part time basis (i.e. 6 months a year). The project is in the field of material science and pharmaceutical product development and is directly connected to the development of new technologies to improve poor solubility of new therapeutic molecules. A majority of new molecular entities (NCEs) nominated in recent years for development as therapeutic medicines have poor bioavailability owing to their poor solubility. One of the recent technologies that emerged to address poor solubility of NCEs is cocrystallization, which attempts to convert poorly soluble drugs into more soluble solid forms by co-crystallizing them with highly soluble counter molecules. Though the potential of the technology has been demonstrated, the instability of cocrystals against physicochemical and mechanical stresses encountered in the dosage form processing, storage and performance limit their industrial application. Thus, the main objective of the project is to develop industrially reliable and viable cocrystallization technology through addressing these challenges. The exchange scientist will closely work with experienced and leading scientists at Boehringer-Ingelheim. The project will result in the development of viable technology to address industry wide problem in formulating poorly soluble drugs. This exchange provides good platform for future collaborations and initiation of research programs between industry and academia. The knowledge and experience gained will help in designing industrially relevant and goal oriented projects, thereby benefiting Swedish pharmaceutical and material science industry.