Technical Considerations for Use of Oligonucleotide Solution API.

The most common approach for the manufacture of oligonucleotides includes isolation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) via lyophilization to provide a solid product, which is then dissolved to provide an aqueous formulation. It is well known from the development and manufacture of large molecules ("biologics") that API production does not always require isolation of solid API before drug product formulation, and this article provides technical considerations for the analogous use of oligonucleotide API in solution. The primary factor considered is solution stability, and additional factors such as viscosity, concentration, end-to-end manufacturing, microbiological control, packaging, and storage are also discussed. The technical considerations discussed in this article will aid the careful evaluation of the relative advantages and disadvantages of solution versus powder API for a given oligonucleotide drug substance.

Applying interprofessional education to the practice setting.

Interprofessional education is a key requirement identified in various professional and regulatory body education standards in the UK. However, recent high-profile investigatory reports into adverse incidents in NHS organisations have demonstrated failures of translating interprofessional education into practice. This paper explores how a university in the south of England uses service improvement projects to address this. Working with key senior clinicians, small groups of students from a variety of professional backgrounds collaborate to address an identified problem in practice to bring about better, safer practice to benefit patients. This style of learning enables students to acquire essential attributes in preparation for employment, such as critical thinking, teamworking, ethical practice and leadership.