Foto: Texas A&M University
Researchers of the Texas A&M University have developed a new 3D printed drug to treat pediatric toxoplasmosis.
With the help of 3D printing, it will soon be possible to produce more cost-effective and efficient medicines. The medications currently available are based on expensive tablets designed for adults that need to be adapted for pediatric use. This manual adjustment poses risks in terms of quality and dosage accuracy, as Dr. Mansoor A. Khan, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, explains.
“Tablets for adults are manipulated and compounded when prescribed for children,” he said. “Such products may be of questionable quality as they are not tested for content, stability and bioavailability.”
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii is caused. It affects over a billion people worldwide, including pregnant women who are at risk of passing the infection to their unborn child. The consequences for the child can be serious, from hydrocephalus to permanent neurological damage. The need for reliable, child-friendly medication is therefore great.
“An example: Daraprim [die Standard-Erstbehandlung für Toxoplasmose] for adults costs about $790 per tablet,” said Khan. “Congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis in children is treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine plus leucovorin for 12 months or longer. Because the child’s weight changes over time, flexible dosage is required. Therefore, there is an acute need for this flexible dosage combination product which is not commercially available.”
The research team around Dr. Khan and Dr. Ziyaur Rahman has received $3.1 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a flexible drug form using 3D printing. The new method makes it possible to produce individually tailored doses for children whose weight changes over the course of treatment. This is particularly important because treatment for toxoplasmosis often occurs over a period of more than twelve months.
“This study is intended to lead to the development of a novel dose-flexible pediatric delivery system for toxoplasmosis for pediatric populations,” Khan said. The tablets are examined for the required quality characteristics, stability and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies. After proof of concept and characterization studies, the 3D printing machines can be deployed in hospitals in the region.”
The researchers used advanced 3D printing technologies to produce the tablets in the Reynolds Medical Sciences Building in College Station. These should be examined for their quality, stability and pharmacological properties. Dr. Rahman hopes that 3D printing will find application not only for toxoplasmosis, but also for other pediatric diseases for which there are currently no suitable medications. The vision is to use 3D printers directly in hospitals to ensure flexible and patient-oriented drug supply.
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