Exploring a model-based analysis of patient derived xenograft studies in oncology drug development.

PURPOSE: To assess whether a model-based analysis increased statistical power over an analysis of final day volumes and provide insights into more efficient patient derived xenograft (PDX) study designs. METHODS: Tumour xenograft time-series data was extracted from a public PDX drug treatment database. For all 2-arm studies the percent tumour growth inhibition (TGI) at day 14, 21 and 28 was calculated. Treatment effect was analysed using an un-paired, two-tailed t-test (empirical) and a model-based analysis, likelihood ratio-test (LRT). In addition, a simulation study was performed to assess the difference in power between the two data-analysis approaches for PDX or standard cell-line derived xenografts (CDX). RESULTS: The model-based analysis had greater statistical power than the empirical approach within the PDX data-set. The model-based approach was able to detect TGI values as low as 25% whereas the empirical approach required at least 50% TGI. The simulation study confirmed the findings and highlighted that CDX studies require fewer animals than PDX studies which show the equivalent level of TGI. CONCLUSIONS: The study conducted adds to the growing literature which has shown that a model-based analysis of xenograft data improves statistical power over the common empirical approach. The analysis conducted showed that a model-based approach, based on the first mathematical model of tumour growth, was able to detect smaller size of effect compared to the empirical approach which is common of such studies. A model-based analysis should allow studies to reduce animal use and experiment length providing effective insights into compound anti-tumour activity.

HEMA based pH-sensitive semi IPN microgels for oral delivery; a rationale approach for ketoprofen.

Objectives: The study aimed to develop safe, effective, and targeted drug delivery system for administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the form of microgels. We developed pH responsive microgels to overcome the mucosal damage caused by traditional immediate release dosage forms. Colon targeting and controlled release formulations have the potential to improve efficacy and reduce undesirable effects associated with NSAIDs.Methods: The pH sensitive oral hydrogel demonstrates the potential to target the colon. Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) based microgel particles were produced using a free radical polymerization technique using ammonium persulfate (APS) initiator and methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as the crosslinking agent. Swelling and in-vitro drug release studies were performed at a range of pH conditions. The produced formulations were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. Biocompatibility of the microgels was analyzed in cytotoxicity studies.Key findings: The swelling and release rate were negligible at pH 1.2, which confirmed the pH-responsiveness of CAP-co-poly(HEMA). The co-polymeric system prevents the release of ketoprofen sodium in the stomach owing to limited swelling at gastric pH, whilst promoting release at the basic pH observed in the colon. SEM images confirmed porous nature of the microgels that facilitate effective drug diffusion through the polymeric matrix. Cytotoxicity studies revealed biocompatibility of hydrogels.Conclusion: These investigations showed that that the controlled drug release and gastro-protective drug delivery of NSAIDS was achieved using CAP-co-poly(HEMA) microgel particles.

Biopolymer-based biomaterials for accelerated diabetic wound healing: A critical review.

Non-healing, chronic wounds place a huge burden on healthcare systems as well as individual patients. These chronic wounds especially diabetic wounds will ultimately lead to compromised mobility, amputation of limbs and even death. Currently, wounds and limb ulcers associated with diabetes remain significant health issues; the associated healthcare cost ultimately leads to the increased clinical burden. The presence of diabetes interrupts a highly coordinated cascade of events in the wound closure process. Advances in the understanding of pathophysiological conditions associated with diabetic wounds lead to the development of drug delivery systems which can enhance wound healing by targeting various phases of the impaired processes. Wound environments typically contain degradative enzymes, along with an elevated pH and demonstrate a physiological cascade involved in the regeneration of tissue, which requires the application of an effective delivery system. This article aims to review the pathophysiological conditions associated with chronic and diabetic wounds. The delivery systems, involved in their treatment are described, highlighting potential biomaterials and polymers for establishing drug delivery systems, specifically for the treatment of diabetic wounds and the promotion of the associated mechanisms involved in advanced wound healing. Emerging approaches and engineered devices for effective wound care are reported. The discussion will give insight into the mechanisms relevant to all stages of wound healing.

PEGylation: a promising strategy to overcome challenges to cancer-targeted nanomedicines: a review of challenges to clinical transition and promising resolution.

On account of heterogeneity, intrinsic ability of drug resistance, and the potential to invade to other parts of the body (malignancy), the development of a rational anticancer regimen is dynamically challenging. Chemotherapy is considered the gold standard for eradication of malignancy and mitigation of its reoccurrence; nevertheless, it has also been associated with detrimental effects to normal tissues owing to its nonselectivity and nominal penetration into the tumor tissues. In recent decades, nanotechnology-guided interventions have been well-acclaimed due to their ability to facilitate target-specific delivery of drugs, avoidance of nontarget distribution, alleviated systemic toxicity, and maximized drug internalization into cancer cells. Despite their numerous biomedical advantages, clinical translation of nanotechnology-mediated regimens is challenging due to their short plasma half-life and early clearance. PEGylation of nanomedicines has been adapted as an efficient strategy to extend plasma half-life and diminished early plasma clearance via alleviating the opsonization (uptake by monocytes and macrophages) of drug nanocarriers. PEGylation provides "stealth" properties to nanocarrier's surfaces which diminished their recognition or uptake by cellular immune system, leading to longer circulation time, reduced dosage and frequency, and superior site-selective delivery of drugs. Therefore, this review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the pharmaceutical advantages and therapeutic feasibility of PEGylation of nanocarriers in improving tumor-specific targetability, reversing drug resistance, and improving pharmacokinetic profile of drugs and anticancer efficacy. Challenges to PEGylated cancer nanomedicines, possible adaptations to resolve those challenges, and pivotal requirement for interdisciplinary research for development of rational anticancer regimen have also been pondered.

Domperidone nanocrystals with boosted oral bioavailability: fabrication, evaluation and molecular insight into the polymer-domperidone nanocrystal interaction.

The aim of this study was to employ experimental and molecular modelling approaches to use molecular level interactions to rationalise the selection of suitable polymers for use in the production of stable domperidone (DOMP) nanocrystals with enhanced bioavailability. A low-energy antisolvent precipitation method was used for the preparation and screening of polymers for stable nanocrystals of DOMP. Ethyl cellulose was found to be very efficient in producing stable DOMP nanocrystals with particle size of 130 ± 3 nm. Moreover, the combination of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyvinyl alcohol was also shown to be better in producing DOMP nanocrystals with smaller particle size (200 ± 3.5 nm). DOMP nanosuspension stored at 2-8 °C and at room temperature (25 °C) exhibited better stability compared to the samples stored at 40 °C. Crystallinity of the unprocessed and processed DOMP was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. DOMP nanocrystals gave enhanced dissolution rate compared to the unprocessed drug substance. DOMP nanocrystals at a dose of 10 mg/kg in rats showed enhanced bioavailability compared to the raw drug substance and marketed formulation. A significant increase in plasma concentration of 2.6 µg/mL with a significant decrease in time (1 h) to reach maximum plasma concentration was observed for DOMP nanocrystals compared to the raw DOMP. Molecular modelling studies provided underpinning knowledge at the molecular level of the DOMP-polymer nanocrystal interactions and substantiated the experimental studies. This included an understanding of the impact of polymers on the size of nanocrystals and their associated stability characteristics.

Natural and synthetic polymer-based smart biomaterials for management of ulcerative colitis: a review of recent developments and future prospects.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory disease of the colon that severely affects the quality of life of patients and usually responds well to anti-inflammatory agents for symptomatic relief; however, many patients need colectomy, a surgical procedure to remove whole or part of the colon. Though various types of pharmacological agents have been employed for the management of UC, the lack of effectiveness is usually predisposed to various reasons including lack of target-specific delivery of drugs and insufficient drug accumulation at the target site. To overcome these glitches, many researchers have designed and characterized various types of versatile polymeric biomaterials to achieve target-specific delivery of drugs via oral route to optimize their targeting efficiency to the colon, to improve drug accumulation at the target site, as well as to ameliorate off-target effects of chemotherapy. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize and critically discuss the pharmaceutical significance and therapeutic feasibility of a wide range of natural and synthetic biomaterials for efficient drug targeting to colon and rationalized treatment of UC. Among various types of biomaterials, natural and synthetic polymer-based hydrogels have shown promising targeting potential due to their innate pH responsiveness, sustained and controlled release characteristics, and microbial degradation in the colon to release the encapsulated drug moieties. These characteristic features make natural and synthetic polymer-based hydrogels superior to conventional pharmacological strategies for the management of UC.

Dexibuprofen nanocrystals with improved therapeutic performance: fabrication, characterization, in silico modeling, and in vivo evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate the impact of polymers on fabricating stable dexibuprofen (Dexi) nanocrystals with enhanced therapeutic potential, using a low energy, anti-solvent precipitation method coupled with molecular modelling approach. METHODS: Dexi nanocrystals were prepared using antisolvent precipitation with syringe pump. Crystallinity of the processed Dexi particles was confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry and powdered X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Dissolution of Dexi nanocrystals was compared with raw Dexi and marketed tablets. Molecular modelling study was coupled with experimental studies to rationalise the appropriate polymers for stable Dexi nanocrystals. Antinociceptive study was carried out using balb mice. RESULTS: Combinations of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and HPMC-Eudragit (EUD) were shown to be very effective in producing stable Dexi nanocrystals with particle sizes of 85.0±2.5 nm and 90±3.0 nm, and polydispersity of 0.179±0.01, 0.182±0.02, respectively. The stability studies conducted for 90 days demonstrated that nanocrystals stored at 2°C-8°C and 25°C were more stable than those at 40°C. The maximum recovery of Dexi nanocrystals was observed from the formulations using the combination of HPMC-PVP and HPMC-EUD, which equated to 98% and 94% of the nominal active drug content respectively. The saturation solubility of the Dexi nanocrystals was substantially increased to 270.0±3.5 µg/mL compared to the raw Dexi in water (51.0±2.0 µg/mL) and stabilizer solution (92.0±3.0 µg/mL). Enhanced dissolution rate (P<0.05) was observed for the Dexi nanocrystals compared to the unprocessed drug substance and marketed tablets. Dexi nanocrystals produced the analgesic effect at much lower doses (5 mg/kg) than that of control standard, diclofenac sodium (20 mg/kg) and Dexi counterparts (40 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: HPMC-PVP and HPMC-EUD were found the best polymer combination to stabilise Dexi nanocrystals. The Dexi nanocrystals exhibited significant dissolution, solubility and analgesic effect compared to the raw Dexi and the control standard diclofenac sodium.

Preparation and Characterization of Stable Nanosuspension for Dissolution Rate Enhancement of Furosemide: A Quality by Design (QbD) Approach.

BACKGROUND: Nano drug delivery systems have the potential to address the challenges of delivering BCS Class II and IV drugs like furosemide. The purpose of the current study is to prepare stable nanosuspension and investigate in vitro dissolution performance of the model compound furosemide using quality by design (QbD) approach. METHODS: Nanosuspension batches with uniform particle size were prepared for furosemide using the antisolvent precipitation method. A quality by design (Qbd) approach was explored to understand the impact of process parameters (stirring time, stirring speed, temperature, and injection rate) and material attributes (drug concentration, stabilizer type, drug: stabilizer ratio, and antisolvent: solvent ratio) on the quality attributes of furosemide nanosuspension using a full factorial experimental design. Multiple linear regression and ANOVA were employed to estimate and identify the critical process parameters and material attributes. Injection rate and stirring time were identified as the most critical process parameters' affecting the quality attributes of furosemide nanosuspension. RESULTS: Individual material attributes did not show significant impact on the average particle size of the nanocrystals, however two-way interactions between material attributes (stabilizer type/drug concentration and stabilizer type/antisolvent: solvent ratio) significantly affected nanosuspension particle size distribution. Solid state characterization (PXRD, DSC and SEM) did not exhibit any changes of physical form during preparation and optimization of the furosemide nanosuspension. Dissolution of the furosemide nanocrystals in gastric media was significantly higher than that observed for micronized furosemide suspension and raw furosemide powder. Stability study data suggests that optimized batches of furosemide nanosuspensions were stable for three months at 4°C and ambient conditions. CONCLUSION: The antisolvent precipitation method can produce stable furosemide nanosuspensions with desirable quality attributes and enhancement of dissolution rate in the gastric medium as compared to the raw furosemide powder and microsuspension.

Emerging Trends in Therapeutic Algorithm of Chronic Wound Healers: Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems, Concepts-to-Clinical Application and Future Prospects.

Chronic wounds which include diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), pressure ulcer, and arterial or venous ulcers compel a significant burden to the patients, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system. Chronic wounds are characterized by an excessive persistent inflammatory phase, prolonged infection, and the failure of defense cells to respond to environmental stimuli. Unlike acute wounds, chronic nonhealing wounds pose a substantial challenge to conventional wound dressings, and the development of novel and advanced wound healing modalities is needed. Toward this end, numerous conventional wound-healing modalities have been evaluated in the management of nonhealing wounds, but a multifaceted approach is lacking. Therefore, this review aims to compile and explore the wide therapeutic algorithm of current and advanced wound healing approaches to the treatment of chronic wounds. The algorithm of chronic wound healing techniques includes conventional wound dressings; approaches based on autografts, allografts, and cultured epithelial autografts; and recent modalities based on natural, modified or synthetic polymers and biomaterials, processed mutually in the form of hydrogels, films, hydrocolloids, and foams. Moreover, this review also explores the promising potential of advanced drug delivery systems for the sustained delivery of growth factors, curcumin, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and other bioactive substances as well as stem cell therapy. The current review summarizes the convincing evidence for the clinical dominance of polymer-based chronic wound healing modalities as well as the latest and innovative therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chronic wounds.

The impact of formulation attributes and process parameters on black seed oil loaded liposomes and their performance in animal models of analgesia.

This study aimed to formulate black seed oil (Nigella sativa) loaded liposomes using the ethanol injection method to enhance oral bioavailability and improve therapeutic activity in small animal studies of analgesia. The impact of formulation attributes and process parameters on the liposomal system was evaluated with key quality attributes being particle size, morphology, and entrapment efficiency. The particle size and entrapment efficiency of the liposome preparation were found to be between the range of 50-900 nm and 34-87% respectively. Particle size distribution data suggested that increasing the percentage of oil, up to a certain concentration, reduced the size of the liposomes significantly from 520 ± 81.2 nm to 51.48 ± 1.31 nm. Stirring and injection rate were shown to have marked impact on the average particle size of liposome. It was observed that entrapment efficiency of liposomes was greatly influenced by the amount of cholesterol and type of cryoprotectant used during formulation. The stability study indicated that the liposomal preparation was stable at ambient conditions for one month. In vivo studies showed that the liposomal preparation demonstrated significant analgesic activity in mice.

Smart nanocrystals of artemether: fabrication, characterization, and comparative in vitro and in vivo antimalarial evaluation.

Artemether (ARTM) is a very effective antimalarial drug with poor solubility and consequently low bioavailability. Smart nanocrystals of ARTM with particle size of 161±1.5 nm and polydispersity index of 0.172±0.01 were produced in <1 hour using a wet milling technology, Dena® DM-100. The crystallinity of the processed ARTM was confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. The saturation solubility of the ARTM nanocrystals was substantially increased to 900 µg/mL compared to the raw ARTM in water (145.0±2.3 µg/mL) and stabilizer solution (300.0±2.0 µg/mL). The physical stability studies conducted for 90 days demonstrated that nanocrystals stored at 2°C-8°C and 25°C were very stable compared to the samples stored at 40°C. The nanocrystals were also shown to be stable when processed at acidic pH (2.0). The solubility and dissolution rate of ARTM nanocrystals were significantly increased (P<0.05) compared to those of its bulk powder form. The results of in vitro studies showed significant antimalarial effect (P<0.05) against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The IC50 (median lethal oral dose) value of ARTM nanocrystals was 28- and 54-fold lower than the IC50 value of unprocessed drug and 13- and 21-fold lower than the IC50 value of the marketed tablets, respectively. In addition, ARTM nanocrystals at the same dose (2 mg/kg) showed significantly (P<0.05) higher reduction in percent parasitemia (89%) against P. vivax compared to the unprocessed (27%), marketed tablets (45%), and microsuspension (60%). The acute toxicity study demonstrated that the LD50 value of ARTM nanocrystals is between 1,500 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg when given orally. This study demonstrated that the wet milling technology (Dena® DM-100) can produce smart nanocrystals of ARTM with enhanced antimalarial activities.

Strategic framework for education and training in Quality by Design (QbD) and process analytical technology (PAT).

The regulatory and technical landscape of the pharmaceutical field is rapidly evolving from one focused predominantly on development of small molecules, using well established manufacturing technologies towards an environment in which biologicals and complex modalities are being developed using advanced science and technology coupled with the application of modern Quality by Design (QbD) principles. In order that Europe keeps pace with these changes and sustains its position as major player in the development and commercialization of medicines, it is essential that measures are put in place to maintain a highly skilled workforce. A number of challenges however exist to equipping academic, industrial and health agency staff with the requisite knowledge, skills and experience to develop the next generation of medicines. In this regard, the EUFEPS QbD and PAT Sciences Network has proposed a structured framework for education, training and continued professional development, which comprises a number of pillars covering the fundamental principles of modern pharmaceutical development including the underpinning aspects of science, engineering and technology innovation. The framework is not prescriptive and is not aimed at describing specific course content in detail. It should however be used as a point of reference for those institutions delivering pharmaceutical based educational courses, to ensure that the necessary skills, knowledge and experience for successful pharmaceutical development are maintained. A positive start has been made and a number of examples of formal higher education courses and short training programs containing elements of this framework have been described. The ultimate vision for this framework however, is to see widespread adoption and proliferation of this curriculum with it forming the backbone of QbD and PAT science based skills development.

Asymmetric distribution in twin screw granulation.

Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) was successfully employed to validate measured transverse asymmetry in material distribution in the conveying zones of a Twin Screw Granulator (TSG). Flow asymmetry was established to be a property of the granulator geometry and dependent on fill level. The liquid distribution of granules as a function of fill level was determined. High flow asymmetry at low fill level negatively affects granule nucleation leading to high variance in final uniformity. Wetting of material during nucleation was identified as a critical parameter in determining final granule uniformity and fill level is highlighted as a crucial control factor in achieving this. Flow asymmetry of dry material in conveying zones upstream of binder fluid injection leads to poor non-uniform wetting at nucleation and results in heterogeneous final product. The granule formation mechanism of 60°F kneading blocks is suggested to be primarily breakage of agglomerates formed during nucleation. Optimisation of screw configuration would be required to provide secondary growth. This work shows how fill dependent flow regimes affect granulation mechanisms.

Granulation of increasingly hydrophobic formulations using a twin screw granulator.

The application of twin screw granulation in the pharmaceutical industry has generated increasing interest due to its suitability for continuous processing. However, an understanding of the impact of formulation properties such as hydrophobicity on intermediate and finished product quality has not yet been established. Hence, the current work investigated the granulation behaviour of three formulations containing increasing amounts of hydrophobic components using a Consigma™-1 twin screw granulator. Process conditions including powder feed rate, liquid to solid ratio, granulation liquid composition and screw configuration were also evaluated. The size of the wet granules was measured in order to enable exploration of granulation behaviour in isolation without confounding effects from downstream processes such as drying. The experimental observations indicated that the granulation process was not sensitive to the powder feed rate. The hydrophobicity led to heterogeneous liquid distribution and hence a relatively large proportion of un-wetted particles. Increasing numbers of kneading elements led to high shear and prolonged residence time, which acted to enhance the distribution of liquid and feeding materials. The bimodal size distributions considered to be characteristic of twin screw granulation were primarily ascribed to the breakage of relatively large granules by the kneading elements.

Transfer from high-shear batch to continuous twin screw wet granulation: a case study in understanding the relationship between process parameters and product quality attributes.

A twin screw to high-shear batch granulation technology switch was evaluated for a pharmaceutical development project. Differences in granule (particle size distribution and porosity) and tablet (dissolution) quality attributes were analysed for both continuous and batch technologies. Liquid to solid (L/S) ratio, screw configuration and screw speed parameters on the twin screw granulator were varied, with output granule and tablet properties characterised. L/S and screw configuration were found to influence the granule particle size distribution, porosity and tablet dissolution. At 0.15 L/S, the particle size distribution showed a significant proportion of ungranulated material in the output granule. As the L/S is increased, the level of ungranulated material decreased. An increase in L/S and the number of kneader elements caused a decrease in granule porosity and tablet dissolution. Twin screw and batch granulation technologies generated different granule properties (size and shape) at a constant L/S. A lower L/S in twin screw granulation was needed to achieve similar tablet attributes. It is concluded that differences in liquid addition and therefore initial granule nucleation caused differences in granule properties, which impacted tablet attributes and manufacturability.

Quantification of swelling and erosion in the controlled release of a poorly water-soluble drug using synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography.

The hydration layer plays a key role in the controlled drug release of gel-forming matrix tablets. For poorly water-soluble drugs, matrix erosion is considered as the rate limiting step for drug release. However, few investigations have reported on the quantification of the relative importance of swelling and erosion in the release of poorly soluble drugs, and three-dimensional (3D) structures of the hydration layer are poorly understood. Here, we employed synchrotron radiation X-ray computed microtomography with 9-µm resolution to investigate the hydration dynamics and to quantify the relative importance of swelling and erosion on felodipine release by a statistical model. The 3D structures of the hydration layer were revealed by the reconstructed 3D rendering of tablets. Twenty-three structural parameters related to the volume, the surface area (SA), and the specific surface area (SSA) for the hydration layer and the tablet core were calculated. Three dominating parameters, including SA and SSA of the hydration layer (SA hydration layer and SSA hydration layer ) and SA of the glassy core (SA glassy core ), were identified to establish the statistical model. The significance order of independent variables was SA hydration layer > SSA hydration layer > SA glassy core , which quantitatively indicated that the release of felodipine was dominated by a combination of erosion and swelling. The 3D reconstruction and structural parameter calculation methods in our study, which are not available from conventional methods, are efficient tools to quantify the relative importance of swelling and erosion in the controlled release of poorly soluble drugs from a structural point of view.

A quality by design approach using artificial intelligence techniques to control the critical quality attributes of ramipril tablets manufactured by wet granulation.

Quality by design (QbD) is an essential part of the modern approach to pharmaceutical quality. This study was conducted in the framework of a QbD project involving ramipril tablets. Preliminary work included identification of the critical quality attributes (CQAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs) based on the quality target product profiles (QTPPs) using the historical data and risk assessment method failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). Compendial and in-house specifications were selected as QTPPs for ramipril tablets. CPPs that affected the product and process were used to establish an experimental design. The results thus obtained can be used to facilitate definition of the design space using tools such as design of experiments (DoE), the response surface method (RSM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The project was aimed at discovering hidden knowledge associated with the manufacture of ramipril tablets using a range of artificial intelligence-based software, with the intention of establishing a multi-dimensional design space that ensures consistent product quality. At the end of the study, a design space was developed based on the study data and specifications, and a new formulation was optimized. On the basis of this formulation, a new laboratory batch formulation was prepared and tested. It was confirmed that the explored formulation was within the design space.

Quality by design approach: application of artificial intelligence techniques of tablets manufactured by direct compression.

The publication of the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) Q8, Q9, and Q10 guidelines paved the way for the standardization of quality after the Food and Drug Administration issued current Good Manufacturing Practices guidelines in 2003. "Quality by Design", mentioned in the ICH Q8 guideline, offers a better scientific understanding of critical process and product qualities using knowledge obtained during the life cycle of a product. In this scope, the "knowledge space" is a summary of all process knowledge obtained during product development, and the "design space" is the area in which a product can be manufactured within acceptable limits. To create the spaces, artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be used to emphasize the multidimensional interactions of input variables and to closely bind these variables to a design space. This helps guide the experimental design process to include interactions among the input variables, along with modeling and optimization of pharmaceutical formulations. The objective of this study was to develop an integrated multivariate approach to obtain a quality product based on an understanding of the cause-effect relationships between formulation ingredients and product properties with ANNs and genetic programming on the ramipril tablets prepared by the direct compression method. In this study, the data are generated through the systematic application of the design of experiments (DoE) principles and optimization studies using artificial neural networks and neurofuzzy logic programs.

Strategic funding priorities in the pharmaceutical sciences allied to Quality by Design (QbD) and Process Analytical Technology (PAT).

Substantial changes in Pharmaceutical R&D strategy are required to address existing issues of low productivity, imminent patent expirations and pressures on pricing. Moves towards personalized healthcare and increasing diversity in the nature of portfolios including the rise of biopharmaceuticals however have the potential to provide considerable challenges to the establishment of cost effective and robust supply chains. To guarantee product quality and surety of supply for essential medicines it is necessary that manufacturing science keeps pace with advances in pharmaceutical R&D. In this position paper, the EUFEPS QbD and PAT Sciences network make recommendations that European industry, academia and health agencies focus attention on delivering step changes in science and technology in a number of key themes. These subject areas, all underpinned by the sciences allied to QbD and PAT, include product design and development for personalized healthcare, continuous-processing in pharmaceutical product manufacture, quantitative quality risk assessment for pharmaceutical development including life cycle management and the downstream processing of biopharmaceutical products. Plans are being established to gain commitment for inclusion of these themes into future funding priorities for the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI).