Catalent Pharma Solutions prepares to invest more than US$27 million to commercialise Zydis Ultra, its next-generation oral disintegrating tablet (ODT) technology. Zydis Ultra has been developed to allow an increased drug load and taste masking. The technology can be incorporated into the company’s Zydis ODT dosage form, which is a unique freeze-dried tablet that disperses almost instantly in the mouth without water.
“Our team of scientists has been working on the next generation of ODT formulations for several years, to leverage the advantages that the dose form brings to patients in terms of convenience and increased drug compliance,” said Jonathan Arnold, President, Oral Drug Delivery at Catalent. “We have been collaborating with several partners on specific products utilising the Zydis Ultra technology, and this investment coincides with these development programs reaching proof of concept and full development stages.”
Zydis Ultra allows a patented and innovative drug coating to be introduced during a product’s formulation, enabling the dosage of active ingredient to be up to four times higher than a conventional Zydis ODT, while maintaining its speed of dispersion and superior mouth feel. To date, more than 36 products have been launched using Zydis technology in more than 60 countries.
The novel coating technology significantly expands the range of drug candidates that can be formulated using the Zydis ODT platform, including analgesics, anti-allergy treatments and anti-infectives.
Zydis is a high-performing ODT and has well-established advantages over conventional oral dosage forms, including improved patient compliance, adherence and convenience, particularly within certain patient populations such as geriatrics, paediatrics and patients suffering from disorders of the central nervous system.
Catalent, a provider of advanced delivery technologies and development solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products, said its 250,000 sqft site in Swindon in the UK houses the company’s Zydis fast dissolving tablet development and manufacturing operation. The facility produces more than one billion ODTs annually and employs more than 600 people.
