Researchers are working with pharmaceutical companies to make improvements across the whole supply chain, from how a pill is made to the moment it is swallowed by the patient.
Dr Jag Srai, Head of the Centre for International Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) talked to Research Horizons about his team's work in this area and why it is important. He explained that upwards of 30% of prescribed drugs are not taken by patients as directed and in the case of respiratory drugs this is as high as 70%.
Tackling the thorny problem of patient compliance is just one aspect of the pharmaceutical industry that Srai and his team at the IfM are looking to revolutionise. They are working with other universities and major UK pharmaceutical companies AstraZeneca and GSK to make improvements across the whole supply chain, from how a pill is made to the moment it’s swallowed by the patient.
"We are already able to ‘print’ tablet medicines on demand, and we are now exploring whether this might take place at more local sites, or at the local pharmacy or even in our own homes."
Click here for the full article and visit the IfM website for more informtation and Dr Srai's work.