Protein Formulation Development In Review

By Stacey Burt


Every now and then, researchers in the medical field are tasked to come up with a drug. This may prove difficult especially if the drug components include protein substrates. It is likely that they conduct protein formulation development and formulation studies which should be complete by the time clinical trials commence.

Formulation studies involve developing a preparation of the drug which is both stable and acceptable to the patient. For orally taken drugs, this usually involves incorporating the drug into a tablet or a capsule. However, a tablet contains a variety of other substances apart from the drug itself, and studies have to be carried out to ensure that the drug is compatible with these other substances

Formulation development is one of the most important steps in developing a protein as a beneficial drug. When developing protein strands that are expected to be of precise stability, the resource usage may be overwhelming compared to when formulating for other pharmaceuticals. This is the case since Proteins have such issues as a result of their eccentric complexity.

Due to the complexity of its structure, and since it is also very delicate, it is practically impossible to extract a pharmaceutical drug containing only the native and pure protein. The process would prove futile due to inefficiencies from the denatured and degraded protein forms. The very process would prove to be too expensive resource wise.

Maintaining the integrity of this protein would be difficult, even with the extraction of pure strands. The shelf life would be drastically reduced and the instability of the same heightened. The processes of handling and transportation and delivery would need to be done with extreme caution. However, the strand would have the advantage of having neither chemical nor physical change.

Chemists and researchers have come to the realization that it is practically impossible to keep any protein sample pure and stable. This is caused by their complex structures, which are predominantly three dimensional. Therefore, medical research and further formulations development is carried out with the mindset that the change in chemical composition is inevitable.

Commercially viable and market competitive formulations have some common features. Most of all, the formulation should maintain the safety and efficacy profile of the protein drug during all the handling and uses specified on the label. Since commercial distribution channels are not always equipped for frozen products, shipping and storage at refrigerated temperature or higher are required.

Various methodical studies need to be carried out to ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements for registration. However, the challenge is that it takes a year or two to collect the results. For efficiency purposes, the commercial formulation should continue in the process of development while preclinical studies and clinical trials are underway.

Commercial formulation should be introduced before the commencement of clinical trials because clinical experience is the most effective way to confirm the safety and efficacy aspects of formulation. In addition, formulations change after this point may introduce formidable challenges to the clinical program and to obtaining regulatory approval.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment