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36 September 2017 Tablets & Capsules Beginning October 10, the Quick Web Resource links you to our featured vendors You'll find: Video libraries Case histories White papers Photo galleries Shows and courses "How-to" Guides Brochures Newsletters And more! Such formulations help protect product lines from com- petition and can strengthen intellectual property claims and patent applications. Suitable for a variety of dosage forms One of the main advantages of HMC is its applicabil- ity to a range of oral formulations, including multi-layer tablets, multiple-unit pellet systems (MUPS), hard cap- sules, and alternative dosage forms such as orally disinte- grating granules (ODGs). While tablets are often the first choice for pharmaceu- tical and nutraceutical products, they may not be the best option—particularly when developing extended-release formulations. After all, many patients and consumers don't like swallowing tablets or capsules, as a recent study showed [2]. The study, based on a survey, found that 50 percent of the US population has difficulty swallowing tablets, with many describing them as too big or saying they become stuck in their throats. As a result, 10 percent of people admitted chewing the tablet before swallowing, 14 percent crushed it and dissolved it in water, and 23 percent broke it before swallowing. Such actions can destroy the extended-release mechanism, resulting in the immediate and complete release of the API. Such large doses are undesirable and, in some cases, can cause severe adverse effects. It is also important to note that extended-release for- mulations must often contain much larger amounts of API within a single dose. Conventional tablets and capsules may not be able to contain such an amount without becoming overly large. ODGs: A user-friendly formulation ODGs are an increasingly attractive alternative to tablets for extended- and immediate-release formulations. This user-friendly dosage form consists of small granules sealed in a stick pack that is emptied directly into the mouth and swallowed without the need for water. ODGs eliminate many of the issues associated with poor patient compliance and even enhance the patient experience. For extended-release applications, one of the main bene- fits of ODGs is their capacity to incorporate a much larger volume of API compared to tablets and capsules. They can also contain a combination of APIs. Because ODGs are much easier to swallow, they also reduce the likelihood that patients will crush or dissolve the product, ensuring that the extended-release mechanism works as intended. ODGs also enable formulators to optimize HMC parameters, in both immediate- and extended-release forms. In fact, both types can be combined in a single dose, further simplifying dosage regimens. Expertise at a click! www.tabletscapsules.com