The first 3D printed drug has been approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of epilepsy
3D printed Spritam has a porous formulation that rapidly disintegrates with a sip of liquid
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals’ Spritam levetiracetam is for oral use as a prescription adjunctive therapy for the treatment of seizures in adults and children with epilepsy.
Spritam uses Aprecia’s proprietary ZipDose Technology platform that uses 3D printing to produce a porous formulation that rapidly disintegrates with a sip of liquid.
Marvin Rorick, neurologist at Riverhills Neuroscience in Cincinnati, said: “In my experience, patients and caregivers often have difficulty following a treatment regimen.
“Whether they are dealing with a swallowing disorder or the daily struggle of getting a child to take his or her medication, adherence can be a challenge.”
ZipDose Technology enables the delivery for a drug load of up to 1,000 mg in a single dose and is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2016.
Don Wetherhold, chief executive officer of Aprecia, said: “By combining 3D printing technology with a highly-prescribed epilepsy treatment, Spritam is designed to fill a need for patients who struggle with their current medication experience.
“This is the first in a line of central nervous system products Aprecia plans to introduce as part of our commitment to transform the way patients experience taking medication.”