Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/922724
Tablets & Capsules January 2018 11 H ard capsules, also known as two-piece capsules, offer an extremely versatile drug delivery method. Most are dry- filled with powders, granules, pellets, tablets, or mini-tab- lets. But hard capsules also accommodate semi-solids— non-aqueous solutions and suspensions—and other liquid fills, which enable formulators to create sophisticated com- bined formulations, such as pellets in a liquid and a softgel or hard capsule within a larger capsule. Hard capsules even go beyond oral delivery: Many products are delivered to the lungs using a capsule-based dry powder inhaler. Many variables come into play when selecting a final solid oral dosage form (SODF) for a drug product. Among them are the formulation, the manufacturing process, scalability, validation requirements, quality control, overall cost, and patient perception and preference. This article briefly analyzes several of these variables, mainly by comparing hard capsules to tablets. Selecting the final SODF: A comparison of capsules and tablets Susana Ecenarro Qualicaps dosage forms