Drug delivery using reduction-responsive hydrogel based on carboxyethyl-succinoglycan with highly improved rheological, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties

The development of exopolysaccharide-based polymers is gaining increasing attention in various industrial biotechnology fields for materials such as thickeners, texture modifiers, anti-freeze agents, antioxidants, and antibacterial agents. High-viscosity carboxyethyl-succinoglycan (CE-SG) was directly synthesized from succinoglycan (SG) isolated from Sinorhizobium meliloti Rm 1021, and its structural, rheological, and physiological properties were investigated. The viscosity of CE-SG gradually increased in proportion to the degree of carboxyethylation substitution. In particular, when the molar ratio of SG and 3-chloropropionic acid was 1:100, the viscosity was significantly improved by 21.18 times at a shear rate of 10 s-1. Increased carboxyethylation of SG also improved the thermal stability of CE-SG. Furthermore, the CE-SG solution showed 90.18 and 91.78 % antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and effective antioxidant activity against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. In particular, CE-SG hydrogels coordinated with Fe3+ ions, which improved both viscosity and rheological properties, while also exhibiting reduction-responsive drug release through 1,4-dithiothreitol. The results of this study suggest that SG derivatives, such as CE-SG, can be used as functional biomaterials in various fields such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.

Identification and quantification techniques of polymorphic forms - A review

In the pharmaceutical industry, the unexpected appearance of crystalline forms could impact the therapeutic efficacy of an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API). For quality control, a thorough qualitative and quantitative monitoring of pharmaceutical solid forms is essential to ensure the detection and the quantification of crystalline forms, wither different or with the same chemical composition (polymorphs) at a low detection level. The purpose of this paper was to review and highlight the importance of choosing adequate solid-state techniques for detection and quantification APIs that present polymorphism - based on limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), pharmacopeias specifications, international guidelines and studies reported in the literature. To this study, the powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Infrared and Raman spectroscopies and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were the solid-state techniques analyzed. Additionally, the Argentine, Brazilian, British, European, International, Japanese, Mexican and the United States of America pharmacopeias were reviewed. Based on the analysis performed, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques, as well as the LOD and LOQ values of APIs were reported. In comparison to these solid-state techniques, reference material used for identification analyses should be previously identified with the corresponding polymorph. Without this previous procedure, the patterns, the spectra, and DSC curves of the reference material can only be used to confirm the mixture of solid forms, not being able to specify which polymorphs are contained in the sample. A major advantage of PXRD is the use of the calculated diffraction patterns obtained from the Crystallographic Information Frameworks (CIFs) files which could be used as a reference pattern without any other information, assistance technique, or physical standards. Regarding the quantification aspect, different pharmacopeias suggest various methods such as the PXRD combining with Rietveld method, which can be used to obtain lower LOD values for minority phases in the mixture of different substances without the need for a calibration curve. Raman spectroscopy can detect polymorphs in small particles and solid-state NMR spectroscopy is a powerful technique for quantification not only crystalline but also crystalline-amorphous mixtures. Finally, this review intends to be a useful tool to control, with efficiency and accuracy, the polymorphism of APIs in pharmaceutical compounds.

Development of an effective cleaning technique and ancillary analytical method for estimation of residues of selected kinase inhibitors from stainless steel and glass surfaces by swab sampling

Importance of cleaning validation in the pharmaceutical industry cannot be overstated. It is essential for preventing cross-contamination, ensuring product quality & safety, and upholding regulatory standards. The present study involved development of an effective cleaning method for five selected kinase inhibitors binimetinib (BMT), selumetinib (SMT), brigatinib (BGT), capmatinib (CPT), and baricitinib (BRT). For checking the effectiveness of the developed cleaning technique, a sensitive and specific RP-HPLC based analytical method employing a diode array detector has been established to quantitate drug residue on glass and stainless steel surfaces. A reproducible swab sampling protocol utilizing TX714A Alpha swabs wetted with an extracting solvent has been developed to collect representative samples from both surfaces. Chromatographic separation of selected kinase inhibitors was achieved in gradient mode using an Agilent Zorbax eclipsed C18 column with acetonitrile and 10 mM ammonium formate as the mobile phase. The analytes were chromatographically separated in a 12 min run time. The mean swab recovery for each drug from glass and stainless steel surfaces exceeded 90%. Cleaning with IPA (70%) and acetone (70%) effectively removed residues for all five drugs. A solution comprising 10 mM SDS with 20% IPA demonstrated good efficacy in cleaning residues of BGT, BRT, and CPT, but exhibited lower efficacy for SMT and BMT.

[Implementation of an Advanced Planning and Scheduling System in a pharmaceutical context]

Optimizing its supply chain has now become more than a necessity for any company seeking to expand its national and international market, so that it is able to continue its progress and fulfil its obligations towards its employees and its customers, particularly in the pharmaceutical context. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of resilience in the pharmaceutical industry to deal with unexpected disruptions and high demand from patients and authorities. Better production planning based on data management and predictive analysis, through the use of new Industry 4.0 tools, improves operational performance in terms of productivity and flexibility in relation to the vagaries of the request. It is in this vision that we approach the implementation of an "Advanced Planning and Scheduling -APS" system, in a pharmaceutical laboratory. It is a leading company in the Tunisian pharmaceutical market that seeks to expand its national and international market. In this work, we describe its project to implement an "Advanced Planning and Scheduling" system and its integration with its already functional "Enterprise Resource Planning" software system, as complementary decision-making tools.

Comprehensive Assessment of Risk-Based Quality Management Adoption in Clinical Trials

BACKGROUND

Risk-based monitoring (RBM) and risk-based quality management (RBQM) offer a compelling approach to increase efficiency, speed and quality in clinical trials by prioritizing and mitigating risks related to essential safety and efficacy data. Since 2013, the FDA and EMA have encouraged the use of RBM/RBQM, however adoption has been slow with limited understanding of the barriers to adoption.

METHODS

The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development conducted an online survey among pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and contract research organizations and gathered 206 responses on 32 distinct RBQM practices.

RESULTS

On average, companies implemented RBQM in 57% of their clinical trials. Lower levels of adoption were observed among companies conducting fewer than 25 trials annually (48%) compared to those conducting more than 100 trials annually (63%). Primary barriers to adoption include lack of organizational knowledge and awareness, mixed perceptions of the value proposition of RBQM, and poor change management planning and execution. Insights into improving the level of adoption are discussed.

Freeze Drying and Vial Breakage: Misconceptions, Root Causes and Mitigation Strategies for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Vial breakage during or following freeze drying (lyophilization) is a well-known and documented phenomenon in the pharmaceutical industry. However, the underlying mechanism and probable root causes are not well characterized. Mostly, the phenomenon is attributed to the presence of crystallizing excipients, such as mannitol in the formulation, while other potential factors are often underestimated or not well studied. In this work we document a systematic multipronged approach to characterize and identify potential root cause(s) of vial breakage during lyophilization. Factors associated with formulation, product configuration, primary container and production process stress conditions were identified and their impact on vial breakage was studied in both lab and manufacturing scale conditions. Studies included: 1) strain gauge and lyophilization analysis for stress on glass vials with different formulation conditions and fill volumes, 2) manufacturing fill-finish process risk assessment (ex. loading and frictive force impact on the vials), and 3) glass vial design and ruggedness (ex. glass compression resistance or burst strength testing). Importantly, no single factor could be independently related to the extent of vial breakage observed during production. However, a combination of formulation, fill volume, and vial weakening processes encountered during at-scale production, such as vial handling, shelf loading and unloading, were identified to be the most probable root causes for the low levels of vial breakage observed. The work sheds light on an often-encountered problem in the pharmaceutical industry and the results presented in this paper argue against the simplistic root-cause explanations reported in literature. The work also provides insight into the possibility of implementing mitigative approaches to minimize or eliminate vial breakage associated with lyophilized drug products.

A new rolling forecasting framework using Microsoft Power BI for data visualization: A case study in a pharmaceutical industry

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

Demand forecasting is a vital step for production planning and consequently, for supply chain efficiency, especially for the pharmaceutical (pharma) supply chain due to its unique characteristics. Numerous models and techniques that are proposed in the literature but little in concrete and generic framework to forecasting process, mainly for pharmaceutical supply chain. Unlike studies in the literature, this study not only perfectly predict the sales of a pharma manufacturer, but also visualize the results via a developed dashboard using modern information technology and business intelligence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this research, a rolling forecasting framework comprising of different steps and specialized tools is proposed that can assist supply chain managers to perform an accurate sales forecasting and consequently a better performance and specifically patient satisfaction. The proposed generic framework combines the use of Visual studio C++ software to extract optimal forecasting and the Power BI software to monitor the accuracy of the obtained sales forecasts. Three exponential smoothing methods are integrated in the proposed framework, which is open to adding more new forecasting methods.

RESULTS

The proposed framework is tested for many data sets from a pharmaceutical manufacturer company, and the results obtained show superior performance, especially a clear decline in both forecast errors, which can reach 75% and a drop of stock level to 50%. Therefore, the company is currently using it and a future integration with their ERP is being carried out.

CONCLUSION

The proposed rolling forecasting framework contributes to insightful decision-making through the visualization of accurate future sales and turnover, and consequently, an efficient stock management and effective production planning.

Machine vision-based non-destructive dissolution prediction of meloxicam-containing tablets

Machine vision systems have emerged for quality assessment of solid dosage forms in the pharmaceutical industry. These can offer a versatile tool for continuous manufacturing while supporting the framework of process analytical technology, quality-by-design, and real-time release testing. The aim of this work is to develop a digital UV/VIS imaging-based system for predicting the in vitro dissolution of meloxicam-containing tablets. The alteration of the dissolution profiles of the samples required different levels of the critical process parameters, including compression force, particle size and content of the API. These process parameters were predicted non-destructively by multivariate analysis of UV/VIS images taken from the tablets. The dissolution profile prediction was also executed using solely the image data and applying artificial neural networks. The prediction error (RMSE) of the dissolution profile points was less than 5%. The alteration of the API content directly affected the maximum concentrations observed at the end of the dissolution tests. This parameter was predicted with a relative error of less than 10% by PLS models that are based on the color components of UV and VIS images. In conclusion, this paper presents a modern, non-destructive PAT solution for real-time testing of the dissolution of tablets.

Conflicts of Interest Among Cardiology Clinical Practice Guideline Authors in Japan

BACKGROUND

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) offer disease management recommendations based on scientific evidence. However, financial conflicts of interest between CPG developers and the pharmaceutical industry could bias these recommendations, potentially affecting patient care. Proper management of these conflicts of interest is particularly crucial for maintaining the integrity of CPGs. The study aimed to evaluate the extent of financial relationships between the pharmaceutical industry and authors of CPGs for cardiovascular diseases in Japan.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study analyzed personal payments from the pharmaceutical industry to authors of cardiovascular disease CPGs published by the Japanese Circulation Society from January 2015 to December 2022. Payment data, including speaking, consultancy, and writing fees from 2016 to 2020, were extracted from a publicly available database containing personal payments disclosed by all major pharmaceutical companies. A total of 929 unique authors from 37 eligible Japanese Circulation Society CPGs were identified. Notably, 94.4% of these authors received personal payments from pharmaceutical companies, totaling >US $70.8 million. The mean±SD payment per author was US $76 314±138 663) and the median payment per author was US $20 792 (interquartile range: US $4262-US $76 998) over the 5-year period. Chairs of CPGs received significantly higher payments than other authors. More than 80% of authors in each CPG received personal payments.

CONCLUSIONS

The study elucidated that there were considerable financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and cardiology CPG authors in Japan. This finding deviates from international conflict of interest management policies, suggesting the need for more stringent conflict of interest management strategies by the Japanese Circulation Society to ensure the development of trustworthy and evidence-based CPGs.

["If you are a woman, read this, it's good for you": the advertising of medicines targeted at mothers in the Colombian press, 1903-1945]

This article analyses the advertising of patent medicine directed at mothers, which circulated in newspapers between 1903 and 1945. It demonstrates that these advertisings played an important role in shaping women as a consumer demographic, promoting a scientific approach to motherhood intertwined with health challenges. The methodology employed included the analysis of advertisements in the newspapers El Tiempo, La Prensa, Rigoletto, El Faro and Evolución. Additionally, it examines the historiography of the subject in Colombia and other latitudes. The conclusion of this study asserts that motherhood was a significant target for pharmaceutical industries, leading to a commercial concept of motherhood.

Microbial chassis design and engineering for production of gamma-aminobutyric acid

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a non-protein amino acid which is widely applied in agriculture and pharmaceutical additive industries. GABA is synthesized from glutamate through irreversible α-decarboxylation by glutamate decarboxylase. Recently, microbial synthesis has become an inevitable trend to produce GABA due to its sustainable characteristics. Therefore, reasonable microbial platform design and metabolic engineering strategies for improving production of GABA are arousing a considerable attraction. The strategies concentrate on microbial platform optimization, fermentation process optimization, rational metabolic engineering as key metabolic pathway modification, promoter optimization, site-directed mutagenesis, modular transporter engineering, and dynamic switch systems application. In this review, the microbial producers for GABA were summarized, including lactic acid bacteria, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Escherichia coli, as well as the efficient strategies for optimizing them to improve the production of GABA.

Adjusting starting points for initial price offers: the example of ibrutinib

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) allows the Medicare program to negotiate drug prices beginning in 2024. Based on the guidance in the statute, CMS has selected specific data items to use to adjust initial price offers for 10 drugs in the decision-making process. Although much of the data are publicly available, some of these data items will need to be collected directly from drug companies. A 2019 US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability investigative report collected a wide range of data from manufacturers of 12 high-revenue drugs that show what is available from the drug companies, including development costs, marketing, pricing, competition, and patent status. This article focuses on the data obtained for ibrutinib, an oral medication for treating hematologic malignancies, which is one of the only drugs reviewed by the committee that also has been selected for Medicare price negotiation. We examine data that can be obtained only from the drug manufacturer that the IRA has explicitly identified as being used to determine the price and suggest potential negotiation strategies for CMS in response.

Developing a Modular Continuous Drug Product Manufacturing System with Real Time Quality Assurance for Producing Pharmaceutical Mini-Tablets

The pharmaceutical industry has shown keen interest in developing small-scale modular manufacturing systems for producing medicinal products. These systems offer agile and flexible manufacturing, and are well-suited for use in situations requiring rapid production of drugs such as pandemics and humanitarian disasters. The creation of such systems requires the development of modular facilities for making solid oral drug products. In recent years, however, the development of such facilities has seen limited progress. This study presents a development of a prototype modular system that uses drop on demand (DoD) printing to produce personalized solid oral drug products. The system's operation is demonstrated for manufacturing mini-tablets, a category of pediatric drug products, in continuous and semi-batch modes. In this process, the DoD printer is used to generate molten formulation drops that are solidified into mini-tablets. These dosages are then extracted, washed and dried in a continuous filtration and drying unit which is integrated with the printer. Process monitoring tools are also incorporated in the system to track the critical quality attributes of the product and the critical process parameters of the manufacturing operation in real time. Future areas of innovation are also proposed to improve this prototype unit and to enable the development of advanced drug manufacturing systems based on this platform.

Flow-NMR as a Process-Monitoring Tool for mRNA IVT Reaction

Messenger RNA (mRNA) based vaccines were instrumental in accelerating the end of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and are being aggressively developed as prophylaxes for a range of viral diseases. The swift adoption of mRNA-based therapeutics has also left open vast areas of opportunity for improving the development of mRNA-based drugs. One such area with immense potential focuses on the mRNA drug substance production, where mRNA is generated by a cell-free reaction called in vitro transcription (IVT). Process analytical technologies (PAT) are integral to the pharmaceutical industry and are necessary to facilitate agile process optimization and enhance process quality, control, and understanding. Due to the complexity and novelty inherent to the IVT reaction, there is a need for effective PAT that would provide in-depth, real-time insight into the reaction process to allow delivery of novel mRNA vaccines to patients faster in a more cost-effective way. Herein, we showcase the development of flow-nuclear magnetic resonance (flow-NMR) as a highly effective process-analytical tool for monitoring mRNA IVT reactions to support process development, optimization, and production.

Pharmaceutical industry-sponsored meals are associated with increased prescriptions and Medicare spending for dupilumab among dermatologists in the United States

RATIONALE

Healthcare industry sometimes make large marketing payments to physicians. Previous studies have demonstrated that there are significant associations between industry marketing practices and physicians' prescribing behaviours in several specialties. Given the current increasing introduction of many novel biologics for atopic dermatitis and increasing payments to dermatologists, the industry payments to dermatologists for atopic dermatitis drugs could be associated with their prescribing patterns in the United States.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate association between dermatologists' dupilumab prescription behaviours and manufacturer's sponsored meal payments to dermatologists in the United States.

METHOD

Using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Open Payments Database, this cross-sectional analysis evaluated associations between manufacturer's sponsored meal payments to dermatologists related to dupilumab and dermatologists' dupilumab prescriptions between 2017 and 2021. Associations were evaluated using logistic generalised estimating equations (GEE) and negative binomial regression GEE models at individual dermatologist level.

RESULTS

Among 2852 dermatologists prescribing dupilumab, 74.5% received meal payments amounting to $1,083,919 between 2017 and 2021. Dermatologists receiving meal payments were more likely to prescribe dupilumab (odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37-1.65). There were also consistent dose-response associations between meal payments and total claims as well as Medicare spending. Dermatologists who received 1, 2-5, 6-10, and 11-15 meal payments per year reported 1.13 (95% CI: 1.03-1.24, p < 0.05), 1.35 (95% CI: 1.24-1.46, p < 0.001), 1.64 (95% CI: 1.48-1.82, p < 0.001), and 2.10 (95% CI: 1.78-2.47, p < 0.001) times more dupilumab-related claims in the year when they received the payments than those who did not receive the payments, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study found that significant associations between industry-sponsored meal payments and increased dupilumab prescriptions, shedding light on the potential influence of financial relationships on clinical practice. The findings call for heightened awareness among dermatologists, patients, and policymakers regarding the impact of these relationships on healthcare expenditures and decision-making in the United States. Future research is warranted to further explore these associations longitudinally.

Achieving dynamic efficiency in pharmaceutical innovation: Identifying the optimal share of value and payments required

It has been argued that cost-effectiveness analysis of branded pharmaceuticals only considers static efficiency, neglects dynamic effects and undermines incentives for socially valuable innovation. We present a framework for designing pharmaceutical pricing policy to achieve dynamic efficiency. We develop a coherent framework that identifies the long-term static and dynamic benefits and costs of offering manufacturers different levels of reward. The share of value that would maximise long-term population health depends on how the quantity and quality of innovation responds to payment. Using evidence of the response of innovation to payment, the optimal share of value of new pharmaceuticals to offer to manufacturers is roughly 20% (range: 6%-51%). Reanalysis of a sample of NICE technology appraisals suggests that, in most cases, the share of value offered to manufacturers and the price premium paid by the English NHS were too high. In the UK, application of optimal shares would offer considerable benefits under both a public health objective and a broader view of social welfare. We illustrate how an optimal share of value can be delivered through a range of payment mechanisms including indirect price regulation via the use of different approval norms by an HTA body.

Algorithmic benchmark modulation: A novel method to develop success rates for clinical studies

BACKGROUND

High-quality decision-making in the pharmaceutical industry requires accurate assessments of the Probability of Technical Success of clinical trials. Failure to do so will lead to lost opportunities for both patients and investors. Pharmaceutical companies employ different methodologies to determine Probability of Technical Success values. Some companies use power and assurance calculations; others prefer to use industry benchmarks with or without the overlay of subjective modulations. At AstraZeneca, both assurance calculations and industry benchmarks are used, and both methods are combined with modulations.

METHODS

AstraZeneca has recently implemented a simple algorithm that allows for modulation of a Probability of Technical Success value. The algorithm is based on a set of multiple-choice questions. These questions cover a comprehensive set of issues that have historically been considered by AstraZeneca when subjective modulations to Probability of Technical Success values were made but do so in a much more structured way.

RESULTS

A set of 57 phase 3 Probability of Technical Success assessments suggests that AstraZeneca's historical estimation of Probability of Technical Success has been reasonably accurate. A good correlation between the subjective modulation and the modulation algorithm was found. This latter observation, combined with the finding that historically AstraZeneca has been reasonably accurate in its estimation of Probability of Technical Success, gives confidence in the validity of the novel method.

DISCUSSION

Although it is too early to demonstrate whether the method has improved the accuracy of company's Probability of Technical Success assessments, we present our data and analysis here in the hope that it may assist the pharmaceutical industry in addressing this key challenge. This new methodology, developed for pivotal studies, enables AstraZeneca to develop more consistent Probability of Technical Success assessments with less effort and can be used to adjust benchmarks as well as assurance calculations.

CONCLUSION

The Probability of Technical Success modulation algorithm addresses several concerns generally associated with assurance calculations or benchmark without modulation: selection biases, situations where little relevant prior data are available and the difficulty to model many factors affecting study outcomes. As opposed to using industry benchmarks, the Probability of Technical Success modulation algorithm allows to accommodate project-specific considerations.

Drug development for major chronic health conditions-aligning with growing public health needs: Proceedings from a multistakeholder think tank

The global pharmaceutical industry portfolio is skewed towards cancer and rare diseases due to more predictable development pathways and financial incentives. In contrast, drug development for major chronic health conditions that are responsible for a large part of mortality and disability worldwide is stalled. To examine the processes of novel drug development for common chronic health conditions, a multistakeholder Think Tank meeting, including thought leaders from academia, clinical practice, non-profit healthcare organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), payors as well as investors, was convened in July 2022. Herein, we summarize the proceedings of this meeting, including an overview of the current state of drug development for chronic health conditions and key barriers that were identified. Six major action items were formulated to accelerate drug development for chronic diseases, with a focus on improving the efficiency of clinical trials and rapid implementation of evidence into clinical practice.

Which Data Analytics Tool Should We Use to Evaluate Risk in Upstream Drug Supply Chains?

Drug shortages are a persistent and serious problem in the United States, affecting patient care and health care costs. This article canvasses factors that contribute to drug shortages, such as manufacturing complexity, price, and quality inspection records. This article further proposes an early warning system and payment, contracting, and pricing innovations to mitigate drug shortages and offers data-driven recommendations to stakeholders looking to protect the supply of quality medicines.

Academic drug discovery: Challenges and opportunities

There are many different approaches to drug discovery in academia, some of which are based broadly on the industrial model of discovering novel targets and then conducting screening within academic drug discovery centres to identify hit molecules. Here we describe our approach to drug discovery, which makes more efficient use of the capabilities and resources of the different stakeholders. Specifically, we have created a large portfolio of drug projects and conducted small amounts of derisking work to ensure projects are investment ready. In this feature we will describe this model, including its limitations and advantages, since we believe the ideas and concepts will be of interest to other academic institutions and consortia.

Patents on Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies for Prescription Drugs and Generic Competition

This cross-sectional study identifies the prevalence of patents on risk evaluation and mitigation strategies and their association with delaying generic competition.

Assessing biologic/toxicologic effects of extractables from plastic contact materials for advanced therapy manufacturing using cell painting assay and cytotoxicity screening

Plastic components are essential in the pharmaceutical industry, encompassing container closure systems, laboratory handling equipment, and single-use systems. As part of their material qualification process, studies on interactions between plastic contact materials and process solutions or drug products are conducted. The assessment of single-use systems includes their potential impact on patient safety, product quality, and process performance. This is particularly crucial in cell and gene therapy applications since interactions with the plastic contact material may result in an adverse effect on the isolated therapeutic human cells. We utilized the cell painting assay (CPA), a non-targeted method, for profiling the morphological characteristics of U2OS human osteosarcoma cells in contact with chemicals related to plastic contact materials. Specifically, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 45 common plastic extractables, and two extracts from single-use systems. Results of the CPA are compared with a standard cytotoxicity assay, an osteogenesis differentiation assay, and in silico toxicity predictions. The findings of this feasibility study demonstrate that the device extracts and most of the tested compounds do not evoke any measurable biological changes on the cells (induction  ≤ 5%) among the 579 cell features measured at concentrations  ≤ 50 µM. CPA can serve as an important assay to reveal unique information not accessible through quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis and vice versa. The results highlight the need for a combination of in vitro and in silico methods in a comprehensive assessment of single-use equipment utilized in advanced therapy medicinal products manufacturing.

Reviewing the process intensification landscape through the introduction of a novel, multitiered classification for downstream processing

A demand for process intensification in biomanufacturing has increased over the past decade due to the ever-expanding market for biopharmaceuticals. This is largely driven by factors such as a surge in biosimilars as patents expire, an aging population, and a rise in chronic diseases. With these market demands, pressure upon biomanufacturers to produce quality products with rapid turnaround escalates proportionally. Process intensification in biomanufacturing has been well received and accepted across industry based on the demonstration of its benefits of improved productivity and efficiency, while also reducing the cost of goods. However, while these benefits have been shown empirically, the challenges of adopting process intensification into industry remain, from smaller independent start-up to big pharma. Traditionally, moving from batch to a process intensification scheme has been viewed as an "all or nothing" approach involving continuous bioprocessing, in which the factors of complexity and significant capital costs hinder its adoption. In addition, the literature is crowded with a variety of terms used to describe process intensification (continuous, periodic counter-current, connected, intensified, steady-state, etc.). Often, these terms are used inappropriately or as synonyms, which generates confusion in the field. Through a detailed review of current state-of-the-art systems, consumables, and process intensification case studies, we herein propose a defined approach in the implementation of downstream process intensification through a standardized nomenclature and viewing it as distinct independent levels. These can function separately as intensified single-unit operations or be built upon by integration with other process steps allowing for simple, incremental, cost-effective implementation of process intensification in the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals.

Antibody-Drug Conjugate Overview: a State-of-the-art Manufacturing Process and Control Strategy

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) comprise an antibody, linker, and drug, which direct their highly potent small molecule drugs to target tumor cells via specific binding between the antibody and surface antigens. The antibody, linker, and drug should be properly designed or selected to achieve the desired efficacy while minimizing off-target toxicity. With a unique and complex structure, there is inherent heterogeneity introduced by product-related variations and the manufacturing process. Here this review primarily covers recent key advances in ADC history, clinical development status, molecule design, manufacturing processes, and quality control. The manufacturing process, especially the conjugation process, should be carefully developed, characterized, validated, and controlled throughout its lifecycle. Quality control is another key element to ensure product quality and patient safety. A patient-centric strategy has been well recognized and adopted by the pharmaceutical industry for therapeutic proteins, and has been successfully implemented for ADCs as well, to ensure that ADC products maintain their quality until the end of their shelf life. Deep product understanding and process knowledge defines attribute testing strategies (ATS). Quality by design (QbD) is a powerful approach for process and product development, and for defining an overall control strategy. Finally, we summarize the current challenges on ADC development and provide some perspectives that may help to give related directions and trigger more cross-functional research to surmount those challenges.

The European Lead Factory: Results from a decade of collaborative, public-private, drug discovery programs

The European Lead Factory (ELF) is a consortium of universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) dedicated to drug discovery, and the pharmaceutical industry. This unprecedented consortium provides high-throughput screening, triage, and hit validation, including to non-consortium members. The ELF library was created through a novel compound-sharing model between nine pharmaceutical companies and expanded through library synthesis by chemistry-specialized SMEs. The library has been screened against ∼270 different targets and 15 phenotypic assays, and hits have been developed to form the basis of patents and spin-off companies. Here, we review the outcome of screening campaigns of the ELF, including the performance and physicochemical properties of the library, identification of possible frequent hitter compounds, and the effectiveness of the compound-sharing model.

Japanese physicians' perceptions of conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies: Estimating two different questioning approaches

Despite being one of the world's largest pharmaceutical markets, interactions between Japanese physicians and pharmaceutical companies often remain opaque. Importantly, potential conflicts of interest associated with these interactions can compromise patient care and increase costs. We conducted an online survey of Japanese physicians to elucidate perspectives on pharmaceutical company promotional activities and how these influence physician prescribing patterns. Anticipating that physicians might downplay their reliance on, or the value of, pharmaceutical company-provided information, the survey incorporated a direct questioning method and an unmatched count technique (UCT) to identify hidden perceptions on factors likely to influence prescribing. Overall, 1080 eligible physicians participated. Of these, 105 (9.7%) self-identified as hospital directors or managers. Surprisingly, nearly twice as many participants responding to direct questioning (18.9%) versus those responding to the UCT (10.1%) asserted that information provided by pharmaceutical companies was important when prescribing medicine. Hospital directors or managers (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] 2.56, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.00-6.54, reference = physician without title) and frequent interactions with pharmaceutical sales representatives (adjOR 5.96, 95% CI: 1.88-18.9, reference = rare interaction) significantly valued the information from sales representatives and sponsored lectures when considering prescribing decisions. Additionally, 77.1% of respondents believed that sales representatives provide fair, neutral, or relatively honest and unbiased information about their products. Few Japanese physicians acknowledged the influence of industry-provided information on prescribing patterns. Our study uniquely applies two distinct question formats, providing a novel approach to understanding the depth of physician-industry relationships and the effectiveness of various survey methodologies.

Key drivers of investment initiatives in Uganda's pharmaceutical industry

This study examines the key drivers of investment initiatives in Uganda's pharmaceutical industry. We adopted a qualitative research design using an in-depth interview guide to collect data from 12 board chairpersons/assistants at the selected manufacturing, marketing and sales pharmaceutical firms. The theory of Investment Behavior (Jorgenson, 1967) was used to underpin the actors' investment objectives beyond profit maximization locus subject to utility maximization. The results indicate two complementary investment drivers in pharmaceuticals: an investment gap and government policy initiatives. We recommend that the government should formulate an integrated human resource planning policy and further establish a one-in-all-stop hub to support pharmaceutical investments in the country. Besides, the hub should take charge of the operationalization of government policy initiatives intended to close the investment gap in the pharmaceutical industry.

Value-added product from sugarcane molasses: Conversion of sugarcane molasses to non-caloric sweetener for applications in food and pharmaceutical industries

Molasses is a by-product from sugarcane processing industries that contains some useful natural compounds. This paper proposes a method to produce sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener, from sugarcane molasses. In the first step, sugarcane molasses was converted to dried molasses powder using the low-temperature spray drying process in order to preserve natural compounds. Response surface methodology and artificial neural network were used to determine the experimental condition for maximal bioactive compounds content and antioxidant activity. Dried molasses powder could be produced with maximal values of sucrose yield, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. In the final step, sucralose was derived from dried molasses powder. The yield of molasses-derived sucralose obtained from the proposed method was 0.628±0.01 g/g dried molasses powder with the purity of 99.95±0.02 %. The proposed method paves the way to convert sugarcane molasses to a non-caloric sweetener for applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.

A Future European Scientific Dialogue Regulatory Framework: Connecting the Dots

The regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) offers multiple and valuable options for Scientific Advice (SA). However, at a time of increasing scientific complexity and global competition, navigating the SA landscape may be challenging. Such challenges are related to the technicalities of the framework itself, as well as to fundamental changes in the development of promising therapeutics. This article provides an overview of these challenges and reflects on the ways in which the already available SA options could be consolidated and optimized for building an integrated, easy-to-navigate process. The key elements of the proposal are improved orientation and navigation support, a simplified process of managing parallel interactions with multiple bodies, competitive SA timelines, consistency and harmonization across stakeholders, a strengthened horizon scanning to increase network preparedness, and a mechanism for building an institutional memory. The article builds on ongoing dialogues driven by the European Medicines Agency and the European Medicines Regulatory Network, and contributes the viewpoint of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries on the ways in which the EU SA framework needs to evolve to provide effective Scientific Dialogue throughout the medicine lifecycle. The article is timely because of the current discussion on the future Scientific Dialogue framework and may inform forthcoming legislative changes in the draft General Pharma Legislation revision and how they are practically implemented.

Paul Berg and the origins of recombinant DNA

In fall 1972, Paul Berg's laboratory published articles in PNAS describing two methods for constructing recombinant DNAs in vitro. He received half of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this landmark accomplishment. Here, we describe how this discovery came about, revolutionizing both biological research and the pharmaceutical industry.

Next-generation hybrid technologies for the treatment of pharmaceutical industry effluents

Water and industries are intangible units of the globe that are always set to meet the population's demand. The global population depends on one-third of freshwater increasing the demand. The increase in population along with urbanization has polluted the fresh water resources. The pharmaceutical industry is marked as an emerging contaminant of water pollution. The most common type of pharmaceutical drugs that are detected in the environment includes antibiotics, analgesics, NSAIDs, and pain-relieving drugs. These drugs alter the food chain of the organisms causing chaos mainly in the marine ecosystem. Pharmaceutical drugs are found only in shallow amounts (ng/mg) they have a huge impact on the living system. The consumption of water contaminated with pharmaceutical ingredients can disrupt reproduction, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and respiratory problems. Various methods are used to remove these chemicals from the environment. In this review, we mainly focused on the emerging hybrid technologies and their significance in the effective treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater. This review paper primarily elaborates on the merits and demerits of existing conventional technologies helpful in developing integrated technologies for the modern era of pharmaceutical effluent treatment. This review paper further in detail discusses the various strategies of eco-friendly bioremediation techniques namely biostimulation, bioaugmentation, bacterial degradation, mycoremediation, phytoremediation, and others for the ultimate removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater. The review makes clear that targeted and hybrid solutions are what the world will require in the future to get rid of these pharmacological prints.

Beliefs and practices of physicians in Lebanon regarding promotional gifts and interactions with pharmaceutical companies

Background

Pharmaceutical companies invest greatly in promotional gifts to influence prescription of medications by physicians, yet there is limited published information evaluating its impact on healthcare.

Aim

This study aimed to assess the beliefs and practices of physicians in Lebanon regarding promotional gifts and their interactions with representatives of pharmaceutical companies.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2019 and January 2020 through an email-based questionnaire sent to 5936 physicians of different specialties registered in the Lebanese Order of Physicians. Assessment was done using a validated tool and data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26.0.

Results

Of the 268 respondents, 188 (70.4%) reported that physicians in Lebanon accepted gifts from representatives of pharmaceutical companies. Most of the physicians (31.7%) interacted with company representatives more than once a week. Medication samples (251 respondents) and stationary items (222 respondents) were the most common gifts accepted by physicians who admitted accepting gifts. Overall, 225 (84.9%) respondents believed that prescriptions by physicians in Lebanon were influenced by the gifts. Only 74 (40.0%) of those who accepted gifts from pharmaceutical companies believed that it was unethical, and around half did not know if the Lebanese Code of Medical Ethics allowed them to accept gifts from pharmaceutical companies.

Conclusion

Although physicians in Lebanon were aware of the effect that gifts from pharmaceutical companies could have on their prescription behaviours, many of them still accepted the gifts. This study provides evidence to policymakers for decision-making regarding ethical guidance on interactions between physicians and pharmaceutical companies in Lebanon.

Creating an Assessment Indicator of Quality Culture Development in the Generic Pharmaceutical Industry in Japan

In the past few years, there have been several instances of illicit pharmaceutical manufacturing in Japan, and there is a growing awareness of the importance of corporate compliance and pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality controls. One cause of illicit manufacturing is the inadequate development of quality culture. This study focuses on the degree of quality culture development in Japanese pharmaceutical companies manufacturing generic drugs. Because no evaluation index for Japan can visualize the degree of quality culture development in each company, this study sought to establish this index to utilize it as a tool for evaluating the degree of quality culture development that would enable each company to continuously monitor and improve its own. We conducted a questionnaire survey among Japan Generic Medicines Association members to evaluate the degree of their quality culture development. The questionnaire contained 28 questions in five evaluation categories. Potential indicators of quality culture development included "Employee growth and satisfaction"; "Management commitment"; "Improvement activities"; "Communication"; and "Environment, health, and safety." We obtained 294 responses from 37 Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) and 61 manufacturing sites. Respondents were classified by roles of management, manager, and nonmanager. The results confirmed the current status of quality culture development efforts, showing that important messages such as the corporate philosophy as communicated by the management is well known, awareness of quality culture development level differs by role, and appropriate resources are not adequately allocated to employees or facilities. Based on the results, use of the index of quality culture development helped to make relative comparisons and visualize the areas to be addressed for quality culture development. This study established and visualized the index for the degree of quality culture development in domestic generic drug manufacturing companies and we hope this indicator becomes a useful tool for evaluating a company's quality culture development level.