Drug-Eluting Device CDMO

Long-acting drug delivery systems, such as implants, depot injections, and combination products, are an increasingly popular approach for sustained drug delivery, offering the potential for targeted drug release, lower dosage requirements, and improved patient compliance. A well-designed drug-eluting system can positively impact an active pharmaceutical ingredient’s bioavailability, stability, and pharmacokinetics (API) while offering potential intellectual property and life-cycle management opportunities.

Experienced with a range of polymers and APIs

Particle Sciences is a leading solutions provider for long-acting injectables and implants. Whether you are looking to design a novel drug product, create a generic (505(b)(2), ANDA), or add a drug to an existing medical device to improve performance, we are here to help.

Particle Sciences is equipped with the technologies and expertise to handle the design, formulation, and production of long-acting drug delivery systems, including those that contain highly potent APIs (hormones, steroids, cytotoxics), controlled substances (Schedule I-V), and large molecules (proteins, peptides, nucleotides).

We understand the importance of polymer control and supply for drug-eluting systems and have established strong relationships with the world’s leading suppliers of biodurable and biodegradable polymers. We regularly work with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and silicones (LSR and HCR). Particle Sciences can assist in polymer evaluation and selection of the proper grade to support a combination product.

We handle both large and small molecules and work on a broad range of long-acting drug products, including:

  • Antiretroviral-loaded intravaginal rings
  • Hormonal subcutaneous implants
  • Microparticle and gel depot injections
  • Long-acting injectable suspensions
  • Drug-eluting pacemaker leads
  • Drug-coated balloon catheters

A breadth of formulation and manufacturing capabilities

Long-acting drug delivery systems are complex products that can take several forms, including implantable and injectable preparations. Particle Sciences utilizes various techniques to design formulations that meet our customers’ target product profiles. Whatever the goal of a drug-eluting system, the drug incorporation method, material selection, and product performance is optimized by our experienced team to achieve the desired drug release rate. Our in-house formulation and manufacturing capabilities include:

Long-Acting Implants

  • Extensive statistical-based modelling
  • Hot melt extrusion (HME)
  • Co-extrusion (core-sheath devices or multi-layer extrusions)
  • Injection molding
  • Cryo-milling and jet milling
  • Surface dip and spray coating
  • High-shear mixing

Long-Acting Injectables (Microsphere and Gel Depots)

  • Sterile liquid and powder filling
  • Lyophilization
  • Homogenization, microfluidization, tangential flow filtration
  • Spray drying

Taking your long-acting drug delivery system from concept to commercialization

Complex drug product manufacturing is performed in on-site clinical and commercial GMP manufacturing suites, including dedicated cleanroom space for processing highly potent APIs. We are experts in bringing processes into a GMP environment, whether through a technology transfer or as part of a larger development project.

Both our formulation and manufacturing efforts are supported by a full suite of analytical and bioanalytical services. Our analytical staff specialize in method development and validation and focus on critical quality attributes such as in vitro drug elution and chemical stability. They also support both our accelerated and long-term ICH stability programs. Together, our formulation, manufacturing, analytical, and quality teams comprise a multidisciplinary team dedicated to your success.

Related Services

Drug Device Combination Products

We have decades of experience in the design, development, manufacturing, and characterization of drug-device combination products, including those that contain highly potent APIs and controlled substances. We offer advanced modeling tools, polymer processing, and sterile manufacturing to support new chemical entities, 505(b)(2) applications, and ANDAs.

Micro & Nano Technology

We employ several microsphere and nanotechnology approaches, designing custom programs around specific APIs and client goals. Our team is uniquely positioned to transfer in proprietary technologies or processes and bring them into GMP production. We can produce micro and nanoparticle dosage forms under aseptic conditions at clinical and commercial scale.

Commercial Manufacturing

Our purpose-built commercial manufacturing facility is ideally suited to sterile and complex drug products, including those with small batch sizes and sterility requirements. We have GMP manufacturing space that features a well-equipped processing room as well as Grade A filling and lyophilization suites.

Formulation

Our formulation team employs a data-driven approach to find solutions for even the most challenging APIs employing a range of technologies to maximize bioavailability, control release rate, and enhance stability. Our scientists work on projects from early-stage development through scale-up and transition to our clinical and commercial manufacturing teams.