In keeping with a report from the Worldwide Federation of Pharmaceutical Producers and Associations (IFPMA), in 2022 mixed “direct, oblique and induced results” of the worldwide biopharmaceutical trade led to a contribution of $1.838 trillion to the world’s GDP with spending on R&D taking part in a very necessary function. Certainly, annual spending on analysis for the trade is 8.1 occasions higher than that of the aerospace and protection trade. This exhibits that it’s a continuously evolving trade, during which innovation is a key driver. And one of many elements driving this innovation is additive manufacturing. As you realize, 3D applied sciences have lengthy been used within the medical sector, and the pharmaceutical trade additionally advantages from their benefits. In actual fact, they’re more and more used to design tailored medicines that higher meet sufferers’ wants. Additive manufacturing additionally makes it potential to mix a number of remedies in a single pill, making it significantly simpler to take treatment. Among the many gamers who’ve made this actuality their specialty is Singapore-based start-up Craft Well being. It has developed a 3D printing answer to provide personalised medicines and extra managed pharmaceutical merchandise. We caught up with one in every of its founders to seek out out extra!
3DN: Might you introduce your self and your connection to 3D printing? How did Craft Well being come about?
My title is Wei Jiang GOH, and I’m a pharmacist by coaching and practiced as a pharmacist in a Singapore hospital. Subsequently, I used to be awarded the PhD-MBA double diploma scholarship on the Nationwide College of Singapore (NUS) the place I uncovered my ardour for the convergence between know-how and commercialization. In my last yr of my PhD, I spoke to my now co-founder, Dr. Seng Han LIM, on working collectively to unravel an issue that resonates with each of us. Our backgrounds had been largely related as we had been each training pharmacists in a hospital setting earlier than.
Dr. Lim Seng Han (left) and Dr. Wei Jiang Goh (proper), the co-founders of Craft Well being
We thought that polypharmacy, or having too many medicines, was a giant problem. Particularly since we noticed sufferers going residence with luggage filled with tablets each day after we had been pharmacists. Polypharmacy is usually related to poor affected person outcomes, particularly since sufferers turn into confused from taking some many alternative tablets, or undergo from capsule taking fatigue. We brainstormed for various options, and finally realized what my co-founder, Dr Lim, was engaged on for his PhD thesis might be the answer.
He was engaged on 3D printing to personalize medicines. We realized we may use 3D printing in addition to our formulation expertise to 3D print and mix a number of medicines into only one polypill. This is able to successfully scale back the capsule burden and remedy the issue of polypharmacy. We obtained a small grant, examined out the know-how, and Craft Well being was began in 2019 in Singapore.
3DN: How are Craft Well being merchandise manufactured?
Craft Well being™ helps varied stakeholders within the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries corresponding to hospitals, clinics, compounding pharmacies, pharmaceutical and complement firms remedy varied ache factors by means of our Craft Well being™ 3D printing platform.
These ache factors embody new product growth, utilizing 3D printing as a speedy prototyping device, combining a number of medicines or dietary supplements right into a single polypill, customizing the shape (form, geometry, color, style) of tablets, reaching particular custom-made lively ingredient launch profiles and just-in-time manufacture.
The Craft Well being™ 3D printing platform consists of three key parts:
- CraftMake: The 3D printer. This represents one of many world’s first 3D printer for prescription drugs and nutraceuticals, utilizing a warmth and UV-free method.
- CraftManagement: The 3D printing software program. We’ve got enter a number of printing parameters appropriate for 3D printing of tablets / tablets.
- CraftBlends: Our proprietary mixture of non-active elements, sourced from the US Meals & Drug Administration (USFDA) Usually Regarded As Protected (GRAS) record. This proprietary combine permits a 3D printable paste to be made, with a selected managed launch profile, corresponding to quick/delayed/sustained launch.
Collectively, these 3 parts are optimized for one another, so as to 3D print nutraceuticals and prescription drugs in a exact and managed method, with comparatively excessive throughput. Our core capabilities embody formulation growth, 3D printing and pilot scale manufacturing in a Class 10K cleanroom atmosphere.
CraftMake makes it potential to provide medication with out the usage of warmth or UV rays
3DN: What are the principle benefits of additive manufacturing within the pharmaceutical trade?
The advantages of 3D printing for this market are quite a few. Firstly, there’s the mass customization of medicines, in regard to dose, number of medicines and even launch profile (quick, sustained or delayed launch of the drugs). Secondly, 3D applied sciences can be utilized to change the style profile or masks the style of unpleasant-tasting medication. They’ll additionally design complicated shapes or geometries for particular managed launch profiles or concentrating on.
What’s extra, 3D printing is ready to fight the problems of polypharmacy by combining a number of medication in a single pill. Lastly, due to additive manufacturing, it’s potential to provide small collection for testing functions, in portions that aren’t essentially worthwhile for factories or manufacturing processes.
3DN : What are Craft Well being’s future initiatives?
We’re specializing in two key vertical markets for Craft Well being. Firstly, we have now developed a Colon concentrating on Drug Supply System (DDS) utilizing our Craft Well being 3D Printing Platform. Via the mix of geometric design and supplies, we’re in a position to goal the big gut, an often-neglected website. We shall be working with totally different teams to develop a pipeline of therapeutics using our DDS for colorectal most cancers and inflammatory bowel illness.
Examples of 3D printed medicines
Secondly, we’re increasing into the compounding pharmacy scene. Our vary of 3D printers, CraftMake can 3D print pharmaceutical and nutraceutical preparations persistently in a steady method, offering compounding pharmacies with probably diminished value of manpower and elevated manufacturing output.
Lastly, we may also be working with a Singapore hospital to launch Southeast Asia’s very first medical trial involving 3D printing medicines. The primary use case shall be a polypill for tuberculosis, the place it’s pertinent to stick to the prescribed treatment routine, as it’s extremely contagious.
3DN: Any final phrases for our readers?
Be careful for this house subsequent yr as we proceed to innovate on the forefront of 3D printed medicines! You will discover out extra on our web site HERE.
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*All Picture Credit: Craft Well being