Biotech firm designs a 3D pill printer to dispense personalised pills

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Spotted: UK-based FabRx is developing and testing a 3D printer to create personalised pills (they call them printlets) on site at hospitals. The printer could solve a major problem. Most medicines are available in set strengths and sizes. This makes it difficult to customise pills to patients’ individual needs. This is especially problematic with children. Young patients sometimes receive too much or too little medication because only adult pills are available.

Academics from University College London founded FabRx in 2014. To date, FabRx has tested the printer in one hospital in Spain, and developed a variety of 3D printed medications. FabRx is in the process of selecting more beta test users.

Its design is modeled on a 3D candy printer developed by Katjes UK – Magic Candy Factory. InnovateUK has granted FabRx £600,000 in government funding.

Takeaway: 3D printing has the potential to revolutionise how medicines are manufactured. The customised 3D printer would allow hospitals and pharmacies to print medication based on patients’ needs. But medication is a tricky business. Questions related to quality control and licensing remain. A 3D printed drug (though not a customised one) to reduce epileptic seizures was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2015. Meanwhile, several efforts, including FabRx’s printlets, are receiving government funding. We expect to see more 3D-printed, personalised pills in the future.

Website: www.fabrx.co.uk

Contact: www.fabrx.co.uk/contact

Company founded in: 2014

Source: New feed 1