Development of a high-fidelity digital twin using the discrete element method for a continuous direct compression process. Part 1. Calibration workflow

24 Oct 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Peter Toson, Marko Matić, Theresa Hörmann-Kincses, Michela Beretta, Jakob Rehrl, Johannes Poms, Thomas O’Connor, Abdollah Koolivand, Geng Tian, Scott M. Krull, Johannes G. Khinast, Dalibor Jajcevic, Johan Remmelgas

In this work, a high-fidelity digital twin was developed to support the design and testing of control strategies for drug product manufacturing via direct compression. The high-fidelity digital twin platform was based on typical pharmaceutical equipment, materials, and direct compression...

Continuous Processing. Continuous Evolution

08 Oct 2024 | Magazine | Contributor(s): Douglas Hausner

Continuous processing for small molecule products has been a hot topic for years, but where does the industry stand with it today? We speak with Doug Hausner, Senior Manager, Continuous Manufacturing, Oral Solid Dose, Pharma Services at Thermo Fisher Scientific, to find out.

Continuous micro feeding and mixing of solid dosage forms under vibrational excitation

08 Oct 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Haifeng Lu, Liang Zhang, Hui Du, Xiaolei Guo, Haifeng Liu

Continuous manufacturing has intrigued many researchers in the pharmaceutical industry in the post-COVID-19 world. We experimentally studied the discharge characteristics of pharmaceutical excipients under vibrational excitation. The successful accurate dosing and filling of powders at fill...

Systematic investigation of the impact of screw elements in continuous wet granulation

10 Sep 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Katharina Kiricenko, Peter Kleinebudde, Robin Meier

Twin-screw wet granulation (TSG) is a continuous manufacturing technique either for granules as final dosage form or as an intermediate before tableting or capsule filling. A comprehensive process understanding is required to implement TSG, considering various parameters influencing granule and...

Critical review on the role of excipient properties in pharmaceutical powder-to-tablet continuous manufacturing

13 Aug 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Sara Fathollahi, Pauline H. M. Janssen, Bastiaan H. J. Dickhoff, Henderik W. Frijlink

The pharmaceutical industry is gradually changing batch-wise manufacturing processes to continuous manufacturing processes, due to the advantages it has to offer. The final product quality and process efficiency of continuous manufacturing processes is among others impacted by the properties of...

Control oriented modeling of twin-screw granulation in the ConsiGmaTM-25 production plant

09 Jul 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Johannes Khinast, Martin Horn, Jakob Rehrl, Selma Celikovic, Johannes Poms

ConsiGmaTM-25 is a continuous production plant integrating a twin-screw granulation, fluid bed drying, granule conditioning, and a tableting unit. The particle size distribution (PSD), active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content, and liquid content of wet granules after twin-screw...

Implementation of a fully integrated continuous manufacturing line for direct compression and coating at a commercial pharmaceutical facility – Part 1: Operational considerations and control strategy

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Conway, Stephen L., Rosas, Juan G., Overton, Paul, Tugby, Neil, Cryan, Phillip, Witulski, Frank, Hurley, Samantha, Wareham, Laura, Tantuccio, Anthony, Ramasamy, Manoharan, Lalloo, Anita, Gibbs, Mason, Meyer, Robert F.

We implement a fully integrated continuous manufacturing (CM) line for direct compression and coating of a pharmaceutical oral solid dosage form in a commercial production facility. In this first paper of a two-part series, we describe process design and operational choices made to introduce CM...

Implementation of a fully integrated CM direct compression and coating process at a commercial pharmaceutical facility - Part 2: PAT and RTD results for normal operational conditions batches.

25 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Rosas, JG, Brush, P, Thompson, B, Miller, C, Overton, P, Tugby, N, Stoliarskaia, D, Hurley, S, Ramasamy, M, Conway, SL

This is the second of two articles detailing the continuous manufacturing (CM) development and implementation activities for an marketed product which have been realized in novel, qualified equipment, using validated control strategy elements to enable manufacture of batches under current good...

Improvement of a pharmaceutical powder mixing process in a tote blender via DEM simulations

04 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Benedict Benque, Luca Orefice, Thomas Forgber, Matthias Habeler, Beate Schmid, Johan Remmelgas, Johannes Khinast

An industrial-scale pharmaceutical powder blending process was studied via discrete element method (DEM) simulations. A DEM model of two active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) components and a combined excipient component was calibrated by matching the simulated response in a dynamic angle of...

Embracing continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry

03 Jun 2024 | Website | Contributor(s): Joelle Anselmo

"Drugmakers have been slow to adopt the production process, which experts say can streamline operations, boost data quality and reduce time to market."

A modified Kushner-Moore approach to characterising small-scale blender performance impact on tablet compaction

03 Jun 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Hikaru G. Jolliffe, Martin Prostredny, Carlota Mendez Torrecillas, Ecaterina Bordos, Collette Tierney, Ebenezer Ojo, Richard Elkes, Gavin Reynolds, Yunfei Li Song, Bernhard Meir, Sara Fathollahi, John Robertson

Continuous Direct Compaction (CDC) has emerged as a promising route towards producing solid dosage forms while reducing material, development time and energy consumption. Understanding the response of powder processing unit operations, especially blenders, is crucial. There is a substantial body...

Influence of refilling on dosing accuracy of loss-in-weight powder feeders in continuous manufacturing

19 Feb 2024 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Jochen Thies, Peter Kleinebudde, Fabiola N. Santamaría Alvarez

Continuous manufacturing is a novel concept to produce high quality drug products. The manufacture of solid dosage forms starts with the feeding of materials, which is consider a critical step because it could have a high influence on the quality of the final product. Therefore, this unit...

MOOC 1 Introduction to Continuous Manufacturing

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I - Batch vs. Continuous Manufacturing: Revolutionizing Medicine Production

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Introduction - The Advantages and Challenges of Continuous Manufacturing in Pharmaceuticals

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

In this video, we start exploring the world of continuous manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry. Discover how this innovative technology is revolutionizing the production of medicines, its advantages over traditional batch manufacturing, and the challenges it presents. Join us as we delve...

MOOC I Blending - Flow and Mixing Regime

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Feeding - Refill Strategy

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Blending Basics

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Continuous Blender Types

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Feeding - Twin Screw Feeder

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Feeding - Disturbances

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

MOOC I Continuous Blend Analysis

29 Nov 2023 | Teaching Materials | Contributor(s): RCPE

CDER's Emerging Technology Program

20 Nov 2023 | Workshop | Contributor(s): Thomas O’Connor

Emerging Technology Program (ETP) OverviewETP TrendsLifecycle of an Emerging TechnologyInteracting with the ETPPharmaceutical Quality Symposium 2023: Quality, Supply Chain & Advanced Manufacturing - 10/31/2023 | FDA

Lubricant Sensitivity of Direct Compression Grades of Lactose in Continuous and Batch Tableting Process

16 Nov 2023 | Peer-reviewed journal | Contributor(s): Gerald A. Hebbink, Pauline H. M. Janssen, Jurjen H. Kok, Lorenzo Menarini, Federica Giatti, Caterina Funaro, Salvatore Fabrizio Consoli, Bastiaan H. J. Dickhoff

Modern pharmaceutical manufacturing based on Quality by Design and digitalisation is revolutionising the pharmaceutical industry. Continuous processes are promoted as they increase efficiency and improve quality control. Compared to batch blending, continuous blending is easier to scale and...