1st Symposium On Scale Up Of Oral Solid Dosage Forms

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 10 Nov 2009 - 0:00 PST

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GEA Pharma Systems joined forces with Evonik Industries last month to present their first ever joint symposium on 'Scale up of Oral Solid Dosage Forms'. The event was held at the Hotel Bad Bubendorf in Switzerland and co-hosted by Dr. Harald Stahl of GEA Pharma Systems and Dr. Bridgitte Skalsky of Evonik Röhm GmbH.

The two-day event was attended by 23 managers and senior scientists from 13 different countries, who came to listen to technical experts from GEA, Evonik scientists and representatives of the wider pharmaceutical industry offer information, advice and opinions on their specialist subjects.

During day one Dr. Stahl talked about the challenges experienced in the scale-up of solid dose processes and, in a separate presentation he discussed fluid bed processes with particular regard for drying and particle coating. Dr. Skalsky delivered a 45-min presentation on processing using EUDRAGIT® polymers. Dr. Christian Meier from Evonik Röhm GmbH also spoke about EUDRAGIT® but this time specifically about their physico-chemical characteristics. Dr. Michael Melichar from GEA Pharma Systems explored the ways in which PAT (Process Analytical Technology) supports the scale-up of processing.

Dr. Iris Ziegler from Nycomed spoke on the relevance of design space as a success factor in scale-up; and Dr. Xiaomnig Li from Eli Lilly presented a case study of fluid bed coating. These two guest speakers bought the formal part of day one to a close.

On day two, the whole group was transferred to the GEA Technology Centre (GPS)- also in Bubendorf for practical demonstrations on: sustained release particle coating, high sheer mixing, tabletting, spheronization, and equipment cleaning. There then followed a tour through the GEA facilities. In the afternoon the group discussed case studies on taste masking, enteric coating of crystals, the curing of EUDRAGIT®, fast-dissolving tablets, fluid bed techniques for particle coating, and PAT.

After the symposium Dr. Harald Stahl said that it had been a thoroughly enjoyable two days and very worthwhile. "There was a lot of good information exchanged between the speakers and the attendees," he said. "We all came away having learned a great deal. I am particularly grateful to our guest speakers for their invaluable contribution and to Evonik Industries for their partnership in this venture."

GEA intends to continue its programme of technical seminars and, where appropriate, to present them with partner companies. Details of future events will be available on: http://www.geapharmasystems.com.

GEA Pharma Systems is dedicated to innovation and thereby providing durable quality through its well-established brands: Aeromatic-Fielder™ and Collette™ - batch and continuous granulation, drying, pelletizing and coating; Buck® - contained materials handling; Courtoy™ - tablet compression; and Lyophil™ - pharmaceutical freeze drying.

Source
GEA Pharma Systems