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When it comes to drug creation and formulation, ensuring that both the creator and the property are protected is key. That is why it is important to understand what your intellectual property rights are, and how to defend them even after FDA review and distribution.
With that in mind, check out our informational guide on intellectual property protection, and how it applies to the pharmaceutical industry.
An Overview of Intellectual Property Protection
Intellectual property protection was established to legally safeguard ideas and inventions of the mind. This includes original pieces of work, such as artistic creations, symbols, names, manufacturing processes, pharmaceutical formulas, and beyond.
Intellectual property also comes in various forms depending on the medium of the work. The main types that you should be familiar with relate to the following:
- Patents
- Data exclusivity
- Trade secrets
- Copyright
- Trademarks
- Regulatory exclusivity
Why Is Intellectual Property Protection Vital in the Pharmaceutical Industry?
The protection of intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry allows pharmaceutical creators to benefit fiscally from both idea fabrication and product manufacturing. Additionally, some of the reasons that intellectual property is legally protected and closely monitored include the following:
- Promotes continuous innovation – Since patents and other intellectual property types provide outside investors with the motive to put money into the research phase of drug creation, pharmaceutical scientists can continually work on evolving existing developments. Along with manufacturing and distributing current drugs, scientists can also create new drugs and start desired projects while knowing that their progression is being fully supported financially.
- Increases economic growth – Due to the ongoing process and competition that comes with bringing new drugs to the market, the creation of pharmaceuticals can produce further economic opportunities, such as generating new jobs and boosting overall exports on a global scale.
- Prevents misuse and confusion – With intellectual property protection, the rights to the formula and branding of a product belong solely to the company or individual who created it. That means consumers will know exactly who and where the product has come from, as well as what the intention of the specific product is. This will avoid misuse of the product itself, as well as confusion about the specifications of the product.
Overall, the protection of intellectual property increases innovative initiatives for companies looking to cultivate and expand upon drug development ideas and procedures. Alongside the developmental period for pharmaceuticals, intellectual property measures also legally protect creators from property infringement by competitors, ultimately boosting the production, distribution, and consumption of necessary medications.
A Brief History of Pharmaceutical Intellectual Property Protection
When it comes to protecting the creation of new drugs, applications, and research, intellectual property protection is crucial. The origins of intellectual property are not new ideas either, as the first instances of intellectual property disputes and one-year patent statements date back as far as 500 B.C.E.
In the modern era, there have been numerous cases that have shaped how we navigate property ownership and distribution. Alongside those cases, here are just some of the notable historical events that have progressed intellectual property rights:
- 1928 – Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. This discovery marked the beginning of the antibiotic age, which lasted until around 1970, with 1940 to the early 1960s being considered the true golden age of the antibiotic era. During this time as well, product patents for drugs became more prevalent as growth and expansion prospered, though global drug patents were first introduced for the pharmaceutical industry in the late 17th century.
- 1984 – The Hatch-Waxman Act was established in the United States, laying the foundation both legally and economically for the U.S.’s generic pharmaceutical industry. And as more countries, such as Canada, began to recognize the importance of drug patents as well, multinational corporations (MNCs) within the pharmaceutical industry started to advocate on a global level for stronger intellectual property protection and patent laws for their products.
- 1994 – The TRIPS Agreement was established in this year and set minimum enforceable standards for various forms of intellectual property across numerous industries. For the pharmaceutical industry, it required countries part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to make patents available for any products or processes without discrimination, completely replacing the “process patent” system that was in place at the time.
- 2000 onward – Patent thickets, evergreening, and consolidation practices become highly common in the pharmaceutical industry. Also during this time, we saw large lobbying efforts in the United States to try to prevent price controls from stopping skyrocketing prices on necessary drugs. This includes key bills, such as The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
FAQs – Additional Aspects to Consider
For more of an in-depth look at intellectual property protection and how to navigate the main types, check out the answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.
How long do patents last on new drugs?
As of this writing, patents last 20 years from the filing date listed on the patent application. Once a drug patent expires, manufacturers other than the original developer have the freedom to produce generic versions of the product. These drugs are usually clinically equivalent to the original.
Can generic drugs have the same trade name as the original drug?
No. Though the chemical composition may be almost exactly alike, trademarks protect the original brand name, and generic brands must accommodate these regulations to avoid consumer confusion.
Does intellectual property protection increase drug prices?
Yes, it can potentially lead to an increase in drug prices. This is because patent exclusivity both delays cheaper versions of a drug from being made, as well as allows drug companies to have complete control over the pricing of their products.
How are manufacturing processes and drug formulas protected today?
One of the key ways drug formulas and their processes are protected is via trade secrets, which provide companies with a competitive advantage. These secrets do not need to be registered and can be protected for an unlimited amount of time, though there are some conditions for protection, including the following:
- The information must not be known to the general public
- The formula or process must have commercial value to be secret
- Reasonable steps must be taken by the information holder to keep it secret
Contact Oakwood Labs Today to Learn More
Have any additional questions? If so, reach out to our team at Oakwood Labs today. We look forward to answering your questions or discussing our services with you.
Oakwood Labs is proud to announce that we will be at the 2023 Controlled Release Society 2023 annual meeting and expo, July 24-28, 2023. The theme this year is “The Future of Delivery Science,” which focuses on the next generation of scientists and progressive research that is being conducted around the world.
Find Us at Booth 304
As a global leader in sustained-release drug delivery, Oakwood Labs is able to solve changes related to developing and manufacturing pharmaceutical injectables. We pride ourselves on being transparent with our clients throughout the whole process and offering our expertise. If you’re looking for state-of-the-art technology, personnel, and equipment, you’ll want to check out Oakwood Labs at booth #304.
We can help you with the following:
- Clinical trial manufacturing (Phase I, II, III)
- Feasibility studies
- Pre-formulation development activities
- Commercial aseptic GMB manufacturing
- Scale-up of formulation
- Manufacturing toxicology batches
- ICH compliant stability testing
Contact Us for More Information
The CRS 2023 conference covers a wide range of topics, and we are happy to contribute to the event! If you aren’t able to attend, but still want to learn more about Oakwood Labs or what you missed at the conference, contact us today!
We look forward to discussing our technology and more.
Amino acids have proven their capabilities in the pharmaceutical industry in a variety of ways. They can be used alone as nutritional supplements, synthesized to help form other products, or even built into drug delivery systems.
Since Oakwood Labs focuses on drug formulation, we wanted to explain the role of amino acids in pharmaceuticals, specifically addressing how they impact sustained-release injectables and provide therapeutic benefits to patients.
How Amino Acids Benefit Your Pharmaceutical Projects
Amino acids are used in the development and function of sustained-release injectables and pharmaceuticals because they help with matrix formulation, suspension, drug diffusion, and biocompatibility.
Different amino acids and combinations can be deployed to achieve specific therapeutic goals. With this in mind, the amino acids used will depend on factors like the drug that is being delivered, the intended release kinetics, and the compatibility of the overall formation.
Using amino acids in pharmaceuticals like sustained-release injectables assist with the following:
- Matrix formulation – The use of amino acids in sustained-release injectables can help form a matrix that is modified to perform long-acting therapy for the patient. The matrix encapsulates the active drug and helps control the rate at which it is released, making it ideal for less frequent doses and better patient compliance.
- Solubility – Solubility is needed in drug formulations because it leads to effective absorption. By enhancing the solubility of certain drugs, amino acids better maintain the composition of the drug and promote absorption into the body.
- Stability – Along with solubility, amino acids also protect the drug from degradation throughout the process of storage and release. Stabilization additionally helps increase drug effectiveness, especially when dealing with sustained-release applications.
- Modulation – Using amino acids in a sustained-release application can adjust the overall drug output to meet the demands of the patient. This means amino acids are capable of altering the diffusion characteristics of the drug being used within the formulation to better meet a patient’s therapeutic objectives.
- Biocompatibility – Amino acids used in pharmaceutical applications like sustained-release injectables can promote biocompatibility for medical applications. Biocompatibility means that the injectable will not interfere with any of the other cellular functions or compromise the patient’s wellness, and it is important because it increases safety, long-term tolerability, and regulatory compliance.
Benefits of Using Sustained-Release Pharmaceuticals
Sustained-release injectables and pharmaceuticals have gained popularity in recent years due to their variety of benefits. Since the drug remains active in the bloodstream over a period of time, sustained-release dosages offer prolonged therapeutic effects. This helps improve patient compliance and reduce the frequency of dosing.
Other advantages of sustained-release dosages include:
- Prolonged action of the medicaments
- Control over drug therapy
- Ability to modify the extent and rate of drug absorption
- Delivering API directly to the desired location
- Decreasing total amount of a drug, reducing local side effects
- Ability to modify the extent and rate of drug absorption
Work with Oakwood Labs on Your Next Project
If you are looking to incorporate amino acids into your pharmaceuticals, be sure to request help from the team at Oakwood Labs. We are a leading manufacturer of sustained-release pharmaceuticals and will work with you throughout the creation process. This includes proof of concept, feasibility studies, clinical trials, and finally the production of an FDA-approved commercial supply.
Additionally, our team has over 20 years of experience, which makes us a trusted and effective partner for global pharmaceutical firms of all sizes. See how we can incorporate amino acids into your sustained-release pharmaceuticals and beyond today.
Learn More About Using Amino Acids in Pharmaceuticals
The team at Oakwood Labs is ready to help you achieve high-quality results in your next project. Our quality assurance and validation practices will deliver the best solutions, regardless of the formulation needed.
For more information on using amino acids in sustained-release pharmaceuticals, be sure to contact us today.
In the pharmaceutical field, molecules are often a major topic since they play a key part in research and development. Small and large molecules each have their place, but small molecules are particularly significant in drug development since their size allows for easy passage through the gastrointestinal tract.
Benefits of Small Molecule Injectables
Small molecule pharmaceuticals are low molecular weight compounds that can be administered in a variety of ways, including via intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous (SC) injections. In addition to offering various ways to inject medicine, small molecule injectables also provide benefits such as:
- Rapid onset of action – Small molecules are able to be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, allowing them to provide needed assistance in emergency situations.
- Targeted delivery – These injectables can be formulated to target certain cells, increasing efficacy and reducing the potential for systemic side effects.
- High bioavailability – Small molecule injectables often can display high bioavailability, meaning a portion of the injected dose reaches the target organs or tissues. This ultimately reduces the need for higher doses, leads to lower costs, and can produce fewer side effects.
- Flexible dosing – By using injectables, more control over the dosage is possible. This allows for treatments to be adjusted based on patient needs.
- Stability and shelf life – Small molecule pharmaceuticals usually have a longer shelf life compared to other complex drug formulations. This is important when it comes to the storage and distribution of drugs.
- Potential for self-administration – These injectables can provide greater independence for patients, as some can be designed for self-administration.
- Improved patience compliance – In the event that a patient has trouble taking oral medication, these small molecule injectables provide a great alternative.
How Small Molecule Pharmaceuticals Play a Key Role in Medicine
With their ability to target specific areas in the body and provide therapeutic benefits, small molecule injectables have become a vital part of drug development and can be used for a variety of roles, such as in:
- Pharmacokinetic studies
- Post-marketing surveillance
- Clinical trials
- Regulatory approval
- Preclinical studies
- Formulation development
- High-throughput screenings
- Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies
- Lead compound identification
- Target identification or validation
Small molecules have helped transform a wide range of medical conditions, making them an essential tool in the drug development process.
Where Oakwood Labs Steps In
Oakwood Labs has been an effective partner for a variety of pharmaceutical firms of diverse sizes. We pride ourselves on providing transparent communication, achieving milestones within set deadlines, and offering our expertise throughout the entire drug development process.
We have over 20 years of experience in developing sustained-release injectable pharmaceutical products, including small molecule injectables. Our team can help you if you are in the early development stages or are looking to scale up an existing formulation.
With state-of-the-art technology and dedicated personnel, we can help you solve all of your challenges, and our facilities are adept at handling small molecule injection manufacturing and more.
Our cGMP manufacturing facility is FDA-approved and was created to enhance our partnering and development capabilities. Features of our facility include:
- Aseptic filling
- In-house QC microbiology and QC chemistry
- Inspecting, labeling, and packaging
- Aseptic formulation
- Compact and portable equipment train
- Non-aseptic formulation
- Raw material dispensing and weighing
- Vial capping
- Shipping, receiving and warehouse space
- Aseptic lyophilization
By working with us, you can expect benefits such as short lead times, robust quality systems, and CMC development capabilities for a wide selection of products.
Contact Oakwood Labs About Small Molecule Injection Manufacturing
If you’re interested in learning more about small molecule injection manufacturing, contact our team today at Oakwood Labs. We are committed to developing products that provide therapeutic benefits to patients and excellent returns to our partners.
As you know, Oakwood Labs is a global leader in sustained release injectable pharmaceuticals. One of the key components of these drugs are microparticles, which are delivery systems for water-insoluble and sparingly water-soluble agents. Microparticles are split into microspheres and microcapsules.
Both of these play an important role in the pharmaceutical development process at Oakwood Labs. Learn more about microspheres vs. microcapsules.
What Are Microspheres?
Microspheres are small spherical particles that have a solid outer casing, are hollow, and do not contain fluid inside. These particles are made out of polymers and are used in drug delivery applications due to the high surface area, but low particle size. Their size ranges from 1 μm to 1 mm, making them effective for traveling within different areas throughout the body, which helps increase absorption rate and bioavailability.
Microspheres can be delivered through oral, parenteral, nasal, ophthalmic, and transdermal methods. They attach to proteins, peptides, antibodies, antigens and other small molecules to travel through the body and release at controlled rates.
Using microspheres in drug delivery has many benefits including release rates are tailored to specific applications (constant rate of delivery or rapid release), an increase in patient comfort and compliance by reducing the dosing frequency, and more.
What Are Microcapsules?
A microcapsule is also a small spherical particle, but its size is a little different, being 50 nm to 2 mm. The structure of a microcapsule is that of a membrane-enclosed core with a shell-like coating. Sometimes there are multiple cores within the coating. The core is composed of a drug constituent, stabilizers, or additives. The outside coating consists of an inert polymer, coloring agent, plasticizers, resins, waxes and lipids.
Microcapsules allow the core to be isolated from the outside environment and then released when desired. These microcapsules are used for sustained drug release, converting liquid drugs in a free-flowing powder, reducing toxicity and GI irritation, and for drugs that are sensitive to oxygen, moisture or light.
The Key Differences Between Microspheres and Microcapsules
The major difference between microspheres vs. microcapsules is the structure of the particle. As mentioned previously, microspheres have a solid casing and are hollow, while a microcapsule has a solid or liquid core in a shell-like coating.
The main reason for microencapsulation in pharmaceuticals is to protect drugs from environmental hazards like humidity, light, oxygen or heat. They also help controlled release within the patient and avoid too rapid of a release.
Microspheres are manufactured out of different types of polymers that when injected react within the patient to release a certain amount of the drug. While microspheres and microcapsules achieve similar goals for controlled drug release, their structures are what sets them apart.
Our Process for Manufacturing Microsphere Technology
At Oakwood Labs, our microsphere manufacturing capabilities have solved complex pharmaceutical industry challenges for more than 20 years. Our microsphere technology Chroniject™ is a patented, polymer-based injectable microsphere system for drug delivery. This technology is unmatched, and some of its major benefits include:
- Use of small-scale batches allow for rapidly developed formulations
- Formulations are easily scalable
- Process parameters are well-controlled
- Compatibility with peptides, small molecules, and proteins
- Excellent stability
- Flexible release durations ranging from one week to one year
Reach Out Today for More Information on Microcapsules and Microspheres
Our team is fully equipped and operates a staffed research and development facility specifically created to manufacture sustained release injectables. Oakwood Labs is committed to developing products to provide therapeutic benefits to patients.
If you are interested in learning more about microspheres vs. microcapsules for drug delivery, contact us at Oakwood Labs today.
Medications are classified and categorized in many ways including when it comes to distribution methods, dosage, intent, and more. For the purposes of this post, we are going to focus on the rate at which medications are released in the body to serve their intended function.
The time it takes for a drug to run its course will impact all of the characteristics mentioned above, so we’ll look at extended-release medication and modified-release medication and how it applies to drug delivery.
What Is the Difference Between Immediate-Release Drugs and Extended-Release Drugs?
Immediate-Release Drugs
For the purposes of comparison and to fully understand the role of extended-release medications, we’ll start by acknowledging the most common oral dosage for medication, which is immediate release. Any medications classified as immediate release, or IR, go to work very quickly and for a short period of time.
Modified-Release Drugs
As part of an effort to administer medications more conveniently and provide worthwhile options for patients, modified-release medications began appearing on the market. These medications were developed to extend and/or delay their effects to better aid the patient. Their design often means that a patient is required to take medication less frequently, which in many cases is majorly beneficial to their lifestyle.
Modified-release drugs, also known as extended-release drugs or slow-release drugs, are designed to last longer in your body. For example, someone administered an extended-release medication may only need to take one to two doses as opposed to three to four doses of an IR medication. From a physiological standpoint, these medications are absorbed much slower by the patient and do not start breaking down until they reach a certain area of the body.
What Purposes Do Slow-Release Drugs Serve and How Can Oakwood Labs Help?
As mentioned above, modified-release drugs require less frequent doses while still delivering the same medicinal benefits as their counterpart IR medications. This can be quite beneficial when it comes to an individual who has trouble taking medication on a set schedule or more than once a day.
One type of extend-release medication that is frequently used is long-acting injectables. Oakwood Labs is a leader in the development and manufacturing of these extended-release injectables, and some benefits of this type of drug administration include:
- Fewer injections needed over a determined period of time
- Ability to target precise areas of the body
- Improved patient compliance
- Help in preventing drug abuse
Our team has over 20 years of drug encapsulation experience and can work closely with you in developing long-acting injectables for your needs. Visit our homepage to learn about everything we can provide.
Contact Oakwood Labs for Extended-Release Medications
Oakwood Labs has been working in pharmaceutical development for over two decades and has a team of dedicated scientists ready to help your business from concept to finished product.
If you are interested in working with us or would like to learn more about slow-release medications, contact our team today!
Designed to work as a long, persistent, and rigorous process, drug development is crucial to progressing the field of medicine. Drug researchers and developers are tasked with expanding on previous information and findings in order to combat the rise of new, as well as prevalent, diseases.
Because of this, our team at Oakwood Labs wants to highlight the five drug development stages to further encapsulate the rigor of the process of providing sustained-released injectable pharmaceuticals for the community.
Drug Development Stages Broken Down
As addressed by the FDA, the stages of drug development follow a similar trend for each case. Because of this, we have outlined each drug development stage below, as we feel it is important for our clientele to have an inside look at the processes that we adhere to.
Discovery and Development
Known as the first stage of drug development, the discovery and development stage starts with an initial idea that is fabricated through consistent research and trends. During this stage, scientists discover new insights into the disease process, which allows them to develop a design for a product to either stop or reverse the effects of the disease under consideration. From there, several tests of the molecular compounds are tested to find the possible beneficial effects, or even test existing treatments that might possibly have unanticipated effects.
Once researchers find results of a promising compound through the discovery process, they conduct further experiments to gather information on the following hypotheses:
- How the promising compounds absorb, distribute, metabolize, and dispose of waste
- The mechanisms of action, and how they can be beneficial to further drug development
- The best dosage of the future drug
- The best way to give or take the drug, such as by mouth or as an injectable
- The side effects of the drugs, also known as toxicity
- How it affects individuals of different races, genders, and ethnicities differently
- How it correlates and interacts with other drugs and treatments
- Its overall effectiveness compared to similar treatments
After conducting the series of tests to gauge additional information, researchers are then ready to conduct the preclinical research stage of drug development.
Preclinical Research
As a precautionary measure, researchers must further test their drug for toxicity before distributing the finalized product for public use. Presented in the form of either in vitro or in vivo research, this stage of drug development must be conducted in favor of good laboratory practices (GLP), which can be found in 21 CFR Part 58.1: Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies. These regulations essentially set the minimum basic requirements for features, such as study conduct, personnel, facilities, equipment, written protocols, and operating procedures, among others.
Though preclinical studies are not usually large, they must provide very stringent and detailed information regarding dosing and overall toxicity levels. Once completed, researchers will assess their findings and decide whether the drug should proceed to the clinical research stage of drug development.
Clinical Research
During this drug development stage, the drug that was initially tested in the preclinical trial will now be tested on people with the hopes of finding how it will interact with the human body. But before the clinical trial can even start, developers will need to design the clinical study for the trial.
When designing a clinical trial, developers follow a specific study plan or protocol that is initially developed by the researcher or manufacturer. Then, the researchers will review the information from the previous two stages to develop research questions, objectives, and decide the following:
- A selection criterion of who qualifies to participate
- The number of people allotted for the study
- The duration of the study
- If there should be the presence of a control group to limit research bias
- How and at what dosage the drugs will be administered
- What assessments will be conducted and what data will be collected
- How the collected data will be reviewed and analyzed for future drug development stages
Unlike the preclinical trials, the clinical trials range from early, small-scale studies to late-stage, large-scale studies.
FDA Review
Considered the final drug development stage, the FDA review team will thoroughly examine the evidence from the drug’s early tests, preclinical and clinical research, and decide to either approve or not to approve the product.
During this stage, a New Drug Application (NDA) must be provided to outline the entirety of the drug development stages that lead to the anticipated approval. The NDA must include the following when presented:
- Proposed labeling
- Safety updates
- Drug abuse information
- Patent information
- Any data of studies that were not conducted within the United States
- Institutional review board compliance information
- Clear and concise directions for use
Finally, the drug is sent for approval to the FDA, where the committee decides whether the drug is safe and effective for public use. The process of approval can take anywhere from 6 to 10 months, as it goes through several inspectors, project managers, and pharmacologists.
From there, the drug is passed to the labeling and marketing stage, where the remaining issues will need to be resolved, and labeling will be provided accurately and objectively for public discretion.
FDA Post-Market Safety Monitoring
Though there are rigorous and persistent steps during each stage of drug development up to its approval and distribution, limitations are still evident and existent. Because of this, the FDA closely monitors drugs for months and even years so they can review the reports on the prescription and decide whether or not to add cautions to the dosage or usage information.
If there were significant changes that needed to be made to a product after the drug development stages were complete, developers would have to file a supplemental application in order to make those changes.
Why Choose Us for Your Pharmaceutical Needs
At Oakwood Labs, we are honored to provide sustained-released injectables to our extensive clientele. On top of that, some of the benefits of working with our pharmaceutical company through each stage of drug development include the following:
- Pre-formulation development
- Feasibility studies
- Scaling formulation
- Toxicology batch manufacturing
- ICH compliant stability tests
- Small-scale to large-scale clinical trial manufacturing
- Commercial and aseptic GMP manufacturing
Contact Oakwood Labs to Learn More About the Stages of Drug Development
If you have any specific questions regarding the drug development stages that Oakwood Labs conducts for sustained-release pharmaceuticals, please contact our team today. We look forward to assisting you in any way we can.
In order for injectables to be able to successfully provide sustained releases, they necessitate drug-encapsulating devices. For over 50 years, encapsulation has been one of the many techniques used in the pharmaceutical industry. In this process, medication is released from a microsphere by the drug detaching from the polymer or through the degradation of the polymer matrix.
Keep reading to learn more about the role of polymer microspheres in the process of drug delivery and how our technology can be an asset to your long-acting injectable project.
The Use of Polymer Microspheres in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Polymer microspheres are often used in drug delivery because they have a high surface area and low particle size, which increases their absorption rate and bioavailability. Since these microspheres are small in size, they are also efficient when moving throughout the body. They are additionally capable of sustained release, making them ideal for use in long-acting injectables for both passive and active targeting.
Capabilities of Microspheres
Microspheres can be organic or inorganic and are designed to encapsulate bioactive molecules and release them in a controlled way. They are used for desired release profiles and can be used to target specific delivery sites throughout the body, including organs.
Additionally, they are considered rigid which means that they can be packed together, found alone, or even combined with other biomaterials to create porous 3D-structured scaffolds. In these scaffolds, they can either serve as a component of a larger scaffold or be the building blocks of one.
Factoring in the Polymer
Polymers can take the role of bioactive or biodegradable depending on the agents they are combined with. When incorporated with therapeutics, polymers become bioactive and provide their own therapeutic benefit. However, they can also be biodegradable which improves release kinetics and helps prevent carrier accumulation.
The benefits of using polymers for encapsulation include the following:
- Ability to encapsulate a variety of drugs
- They have high biocompatibility
- They are bioavailable
Incorporating ChronijectTM Technology into Your Project
Since polymer microspheres are suited for sustained-release technology, they are the perfect candidate for long-acting injectables. Our technology for microspheres is a patented, polymer-based injectable for drug delivery called ChronijectTM. This technology is compatible with small molecules, peptides, and proteins. It is also capable of enabling sustained release over durations of two weeks to one year.
Our ChronijectTM process for microsphere manufacturing initially uses small batch sizes to enable the production of numerous trial batches. This allows us to obtain a formation with the desired release profile and other indicated product characteristics. Additionally, this process can easily be scaled up to commercial production levels with lot-to-lot reproducibility. Since we can produce clinical trial material at the forecast commercial scale, scaling up is feasible at the commercial scale and is conducted in our GMP facility.
Advantages of Using ChronijectTM
There are diverse advantages of using polymer microspheres and our ChronijectTM technology for drug delivery, which include the following:
- Rapid development of formulations using small-scale batches
- Easily scaled formations
- Process parameters that are monitored and controlled
- Proven lot-to-lot reproducibility
- Molecule compatibility (small molecules, peptides, proteins)
- Flexible release durations, ranging from one week to one year
- Excellent stability
- Instant reconstitution with WFI – no special diluent required
- Applications in various therapeutic indications (CNS, neurology, ophthalmology)
About Oakwood Labs
Oakwood Labs is a specialty pharmaceutical company located near Cleveland, Ohio. We are focused on developing and manufacturing sustained-release injectable pharmaceuticals, incorporating our microsphere-based technology. We operate in a fully compliant, aseptic facility that is specifically used for manufacturing pharmaceutical products like injectables.
Our goal is to provide enhanced therapeutic benefits to patients while achieving excellent returns for our pharmaceutical partners. With over 20 years of experience, we have proven ourselves as an effective partner of global pharmaceutical firms. From proof of concept and feasibility studies to clinical trials and FDA-approved supplies, the team at Oakwood Labs is ready to help incorporate polymer microspheres into the development of long-acting injectables.
Contact Our Team with Any Questions
If you are interested in learning more about our capabilities in incorporating polymer microspheres into long-acting injectables, please reach out to our team today.
Pharmaceutical peptides play an incredibly important role in the medical field. Years of research has shown that pharmaceutical peptides can have beneficial impacts on your physical health including your body’s ability to heal and maintain strong bones. Peptides are also proven to help build strength and muscle mass, making them among some of the most important building blocks of the human anatomy.
What Are Peptides?
Peptides are strings of amino acids, also known as the “building blocks” of proteins. The human body naturally produces more than 7,000 known peptide types. Along with the peptides that are naturally produced by the human body, they can also be produced in medical laboratories. Pharmaceutical peptides are those that are created using recombinant DNA technology which involves manipulating and isolating DNA segments.
Peptides in pharmaceuticals are also often referred to as therapeutic peptides. They are most commonly used for the treatment of diseases. Some examples of lab-produced peptides are human insulin and growth hormone, both of which can be life-saving for people living with certain conditions.
Getting More Specific: What Are the Benefits of Peptides in Pharmaceuticals?
The development of peptides in pharmaceuticals has made a lot of progress in the last decade thanks to new production, modification, and DNA technologies. Some of the most notable benefits of developing and utilizing pharmaceutical peptides include:
- Low production costs and sale prices
- Oral administration allows for easy delivery to patients
- Good membrane penetration ability
There aren’t many cons when it comes to utilizing pharmaceutical peptides in the medial field, but one that should be noted is they tend to be short lived in the body as a result of rapid degradation and clearance.
Our Capabilities in Pharmaceutical Peptide Production
Oakwood Labs has decades of experience in researching and manufacturing a wide range of pharmaceuticals, including pharmaceutical peptides. Our international reputation for pharmaceutical development is all thanks to our highly skilled, innovative, and knowledgeable staff.
When it comes to utilizing peptides in pharmaceuticals, our team is highly equipped to perform research and lead in the development of individually formulated products for your specific needs.
Oakwood Labs Is an Industry Leader
In addition to manufacturing pharmaceutical peptides, which, as we’ve highlighted, are crucial in the management of chronic diseases, Oakwood Labs provides many other products and services that cater to the medical field. Some of those services include:
When you work with Oakwood Labs, you can expect high-quality results every time. We maintain rigorous quality assurance and validation practices to provide the absolute best solutions for our customers. The partnerships we’ve long maintained are attributed to our skilled team and history of compliance.
Reach Out to Us for Pharmaceutical Peptides and More
Oakwood Labs is your source for R&D formulation development through GMP commercial manufacturing. If you’re interested in learning more about our capabilities when it comes to peptides in pharmaceuticals, contact our team today.
The utilization of biodegradable polymers has come a long way during the past few decades. As science and engineering continue to evolve, so do the advancements with utilizing biodegradable polymers in drug delivery. Let’s examine some key aspects.
Starting with the Basics: What Are Biodegradable Polymers?
A biodegradable polymer is engineered to deteriorate over time. These specific polymers have a high molecular weight that depreciates to a lower molecular weight after its intended function. Essentially, once these polymers have served their purpose with appropriate response from the host, they are broken down and eliminated from the body.
Biodegradable polymers are produced both naturally and synthetically. The two most common natural biodegradable polymers include proteins and polysaccharides. Synthetic biodegradable polymers consist of amides, ethers, urethanes, and other esters.
PLA and PLGA are two common biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. These FDA-approved polymers have been used in medical devices, such as microspheres. One of the major benefits of working with biodegradable polymers, such as PLA and PLGA, is that they can be used to encapsulate just about any type of drug, including:
- Proteins
- Peptides
- Polypeptides
- Small molecules
In addition to using biodegradable polymers in controlled drug delivery, they can also be used for the following applications:
- Gene delivery
- Wound dressings
- Tissue regeneration and engineering
- Cryopreservation
- Enzyme immobilization
- Nanotechnology
- Orthopedic fixation devices
- Prosthetics
- Biomedical devices and implants
- Cosmetics
- Augmentation
- Stitches
Why Are Biodegradable Polymers Effective?
Whether biodegradable polymers are natural or synthetic, they have unique biocompatible properties that allow them to decompose inside the body by natural, nontoxic byproducts such as carbon dioxide or water. One benefit to synthetic biodegradable polymers is that they can be produced with a wide range of mechanical, physical, and chemical properties that can be modified. Because these specific polymers can be synthesized by reproducing the same polymer, they have endless availability.
Naturally occurring biodegradable polymers are just as effective as synthetic in that they offer temporary support and aid in controlled release factors throughout the body. Some other major advantages of using biodegradable polymers in drug delivery include:
- Ability to adjust the degradation rates and mechanical properties to form into various configurations
- Decreased need for successive surgical removal, which overall saves money and time
- Sterilizable properties that can be easily processed by the host
- Modifiable surfaces
Biodegradable Polymers at Oakwood Labs
Oakwood Labs is a leader in the pharmaceutical industry providing manufacturing services and contract development. Our state-of-the-art technology allows us to be experts with biodegradable polymers in drug delivery.
At Oakwood labs, we utilize biodegradable polymers such as PLGA, PLA, and other polymers that demonstrate low toxicity. These biodegradable polymers are used in our long acting injectables, which are based upon our technology platform Chroniject™. Our patented microsphere technology is a polymer-based injectable microsphere system for drug delivery.
Other advantages of our technology used for biodegradable polymers in drug delivery include:
- Sourced from multiple suppliers
- Quick and effective development of formulations using small scale batches
- Easily scalable formulations
- Controlled process parameters
- Proven lot-to-lot reproducibility
- Molecule compatibility (peptides, proteins, and small molecules)
- Adjustable release durations ranging from one week to one year
- Exceptional stability
- Immediate reconstitution with WFI with no special diluent needed
- Versatile use in multiple therapeutic applications (neurology, depression, CNS, ophthalmology)
Contact Us Regarding Our Biodegradable Polymers in Drug Delivery
At Oakwood Labs, we have over 20 years of experience with drug encapsulation, which has propelled us to being a leader in sustained release drug delivery. When it comes to using biodegradable polymers in drug delivery, our advanced technology provides the ability to customize release duration ranging from weeks to years.
If you’re interested in learning more about biodegradable polymers, reach out to our team today.