Pharmaceutical cocrystallisation for improved medicines

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are frequently delivered to the patients in the solid-state formulation. Numerous tons of tablets are produced daily worldwide by pharmaceutical industry. Therapeutic effectiveness of a dosage form depends on the bioavailability, stability and also on the manufacturability of the dosage form. Crystal engineering is the design and synthesis of molecular solid-state structures with desired properties, based on an understanding and use of intermolecular interactions. Recently, crystal engineering approach has shown significant promise in attaining desired physicochemical and mechanical properties to the pharmaceutical materials.

Recently, we demonstrated the potential of crystal engineering-based novel pharmaceutical materials (cocrystals) for improving biopharmaceutical and manufacturability properties of solid forms.^1,2 The cocrystal approach has advanced from an early development (preclinical studies) to marketed drug products, for example, Entresto^Ò (valsartan – sacurbitril) by Novartis³ and Suglat^Ò (iproglifozin – L-proline) by Astellas Pharma.⁴ There have been considerable advancements in the design, synthesis and characterisation of pharmaceutical cocrystals thus far. The current PhD project will focus on an important area that remains largely unaddressed, formulation of the cocrystal materials into dosage forms. To perform this interdisciplinary project, the prospective PhD applicant will work with Pharmaceutical Engineering and Science groups and will be able to learn and utilise pharmaceutical industry relevant technologies.