Bend adds hot-melt tech to boost solubilisation service
Expanding hot-melt extrusion capabilities helps Bend serve clients who are attempting to increase solubility of their drugs. Bend can use hot-melt extrusion and spray-dried dispersion (SDD) to support clients’ efforts to increase the bioavailability of compounds.
“The new equipment broadens the company's technology offerings for the delivery of low-solubility drugs”, said Rod Ray, president and CEO of Bend. Adding the equipment will help Bend support clients who need innovative delivery technologies.
Bend first added hot-melt capabilities in 2002 and is now installing an 18mm extruder to complement its existing 7.7mm and 27mm equipment. Bend will use different machines for products at different stages of development.
Having the three machines allows Bend to scale-up formulation from small-scale development work to large scale, current good manufacturing practice (GMP) production of clinical trial materials.
Adding equipment for a different scale will allow Bend to better serve the needs of its clients. Hot-melt extrusion was used by Bend on the first pharmaceutical product it helped bring to market.
"We worked closely with a client to develop an innovative modified-release product based on hot-melt extrusion that made it possible for patients to take a single dose of an antibiotic rather than a multi-day regimen”, said Ray.
Bend has a range of equipment, such as mills, blenders and tabletting machines, for use in transforming hot-melt extrusion formulations into dosage form. The company is also adding suites for high-potency compounds.