Drug Development And Delivery Tech Talks

In this Tech Talk, Srinivasan Shanmugam, Executive Director of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Adare Pharma Solutions, explores the evolution of tailored drug release from a basic formulation method into a clinically strategic tool. Traditional dosage forms often fail to align drug exposure with disease biology, leading to reduced efficacy or increased side effects. Tailored release seeks to optimize when, where, and how fast a drug is released to match therapeutic needs more precisely.

Shanmugam introduces three main categories of tailored release: time-based (e.g., pulsatile or chronotherapeutic release), rate-based (e.g., extended or controlled release), and site-based (targeted delivery to specific areas of the GI tract). He explains how these strategies are applied across therapeutic areas like rheumatoid arthritis, nocturnal asthma, ulcerative colitis, and diabetes to improve outcomes and patient adherence.

Next-generation technologies—such as multiparticulates, stimuli-responsive systems, and 3D-printed dosage forms—enable increasingly personalized drug delivery. These innovations support combining multiple release profiles in a single dosage, accommodating complex therapies and patient needs. Adare’s proprietary and non-proprietary platforms allow for the development of customized delivery solutions, including orally disintegrating tablets and sprinkle capsules, enhancing convenience and accessibility.

Shanmugam emphasizes that tailored release now plays a crucial role in achieving therapeutic precision, aligning treatments with circadian rhythms, disease triggers, and patient preferences. It also offers strategic value in market differentiation and lifecycle management. With advanced tools like 3D printing, the future of drug delivery is heading toward truly personalized medicine.