Putnam, CT (April 2005) - Foster Corporation successfully completed compounding of a pharmaceutical drug into a rigid polymer matrix, creating the first in a class of drug delivery materials that will potentially revolutionize the medical industry. This drug delivery polymer will be extruded and submitted for FDA clinical testing for an undisclosed client and application. The device that will use this polymer could be commercially available as early as 2006.
Drug delivery polymers incorporate active pharmaceuticals ingredients into rigid polymers. These compounds are extruded or injection molded into medical device components that exude the drug into the body, providing an alternative to delivery by ingestion or injection. To date these polymers have gained recognition for local drug delivery around short-term implantable devices, such as catheters. The benefits in such applications include increased local effectiveness with a reduction in overall drug consumption, often resulting in reduced side effects.
Foster has been a leader in biomedical material solutions since 1989, and is believed to be the only company capable of compounding drug delivery polymers on a commercial basis in its dedicated 900 sq. ft., class 100,000 clean room compounding facility. This particular drug delivery polymer was produced under total GMP conditions on a dedicated twin screw extruder. Extremely accurate feeding systems allowed formulations to be produced with varying drug loadings in the polymer matrix, while computers monitored all aspects of the process.
According to Foster's VP and Chief Operations Officer, Ken Pickering, "Successful completion of this trial is a milestone in Foster's history as a leader in materials that advance the medical industry. Our early and substantial investment in bio-active compounding in a GMP clean room setting has allowed us to be on the forefront of the exciting convergence of pharmaceuticals and medical devices."
Foster Corporation is a global market leader in design, development and delivery of specialty polymer solutions for biomedical markets. The company also provides a broad range of material, process and design contract engineering services for these target markets. For more information, please call 860.928.4102.
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