A team of researchers at National University of Singapore have discovered a way to make medicine that is both personalized and cheaper in a much easier way than ever before. The new technology allows patients to receive all the benefits of their multiple medications within one single tablet.

The meds can be built to release throughout the day for ailments that require a constant flow of certain treatments as well. This new medication will literally allow doctors to create medications that are specific to each patient’s needs on the spot, without the wait times.

This new form of tablet fabrication was designed by Assistant Professor Soh Siow Ling along with his PhD student Ms. Sun Yajuan. This new type of medication creation will allow all types of release profiles to be created effectively, affordably and quickly so patients can get their treatment faster. The most common type of release profile is the constant one, in which a drug is released into the body at a constant rate throughout the day. These drugs are only effective when their concentration remains within a certain range. In the event that a large dose is initially required in order to kick start the treatment, (such as with hormone treatment) drugs may be needed in pulses, to maintain in sync with the biological cycles of the human body.

Common tablet-production methods today include 3D printing, which offers some flexibility, but has limitations such as low dosage release profiles that are not constant. Drugs may also be released in large initial bursts but have less than optimal durability as the tablets begin to break down, leading to quicker-than-desired release. These solutions have worked, but only for a very limited number of release profiles.

Assistant Professor Soh says personalized tablets have been a concept for a very long time but were too complicated and expensive to become a reality. He says the new tablet fabrication method changes the game because it is simple, versatile and affordable. Not only can the method be used on the spot to provide medications to patients on a one on one basis, but it can also be used to manufacture medications on a wide scale.

The drug is not manufactured by printing layer by layer, but is made up of three distinct components, one being a polymer that holds the drug in a predetermined shape that will control the rate of release. To change the rate, a simple change of design is applied.

All a health care provider has to do is use computer software to select the desired profile and generate a template that will then be printed via a 3D printer. Since photolithography or conventional tablet production is not required, drugs can be easily and affordably offered to patients who desperately need them. Since the software is completely customizable, doctors will be able to combine more than one medication into a single tablet, still allowing each drug to be released at its own rate. Fewer daily tablets mean less clutter and also lowered costs for production.

The NUS team is currently working on exploring different material combinations for polymer-based components in the tablet in order to cater to a wider range of drugs and ailments to increase the efficacy of this new method.