University of Nottingham, AstraZeneca, Quotient Sciences and Added Scientific Ltd receive MRC grant to advance 3D printing of solid dosage forms

  • Category Process Development
  • Date 13 Jan 2020

The University of Nottingham Faculty of Engineering and School of Pharmacy are delighted to announce the award of an MRC Confidence in Concepts grant in collaboration with AstraZeneca, Quotient Sciences Ltd and Added Scientific Ltd to translate towards clinical applications some of the advances made at Nottingham in the 3D printing of pharmaceutical dosage forms. The 12-month project aims to demonstrate the ability to manufacture personalised dosage forms in a regulated industrial environment focused on medicines development and clinical trials.

Professors Ricky Wildman and Clive Roberts, who the lead the project, commented: “This project is an exciting opportunity to work with leading industrial partners in clinical trials, additive manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, and is an important step for us in exploring the potential of 3D printing for the improvement of human health and wellbeing through more personalised medicines.”

Dr Johanna Laru, Associate Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D at AstraZeneca commented: “We know the best science doesn’t happen in isolation. This grant builds on our existing collaboration with the University of Nottingham, Quotient Sciences Ltd and Added Scientific Ltd, and we look forward to working together to further assess the potential of 3D printing in the medicines development.”

“The scope for 3D printing in the pharmaceutical industry is significant, with potential applications including the rapid development of prototype dosage forms and the ability to personalise drug products to individual patient needs, for example in rare, orphan and paediatric diseases,” said Dr Peter Scholes, Chief Scientific Officer at Quotient Sciences. “We are excited to be part of this collaborative program which will look to translate the research performed at the University of Nottingham into an industrial manufacturing setting”.

Tim Setchfield, General Manager of Added Scientific said: “Added Scientific are very excited to be part of this work after our involvement in an earlier collaborative project looking at the feasibility of printing pills. The opportunity to observe, learn and benefit from the first human trials of this technology will be invaluable to the company and our engineers and scientists.”