3D printing of pharmaceuticals: patent and regulatory challenges

In this commentary from Pharmaceutial Patent Analysis, learn more about the procurement and enforcement of intellectual property rights in respect to 3DP-related products and processes. Additive manufacturing, specifically 3D printing (3DP), has been in use in the manufacture of medical devices for some time, with the US FDA recently issuing draft guidance for technical considerations in this regard. More recently, however, attention has turned to the use of these techniques in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, in particular pharmaceutical dosage forms including orally administrable dosage forms and drug-loaded implants. In addition to the technical challenges faced by inventors in this field, there are...