As the pharmaceutical industry moves away from mass production towards a more personalised model, 3D printing of drugs have the potential to revolutionise the market.

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The main benefit of using 3D printing technology for personalised pharmaceuticals is the ability to produce small batches with carefully tailored dosages, shapes, sizes, and release characteristics. It also allows flavours to be incorporated into a pill without the need of a film coating, entirely masking the taste of chemical compounds.

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3D printers can be installed in pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and remote locations, enabling on-demand production of drugs, particularly those with poor stability or that have cold chain storage requirements. For pharmaceutical companies, 3D printing can significantly reduce costs, waste, and environmental burden as printers only deposit the exact amount of raw materials required.

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Aprecia Pharmaceuticals’ Spritam (levetiracetam), an anti-epileptic drug, is the first and only 3D-printed pharmaceutical. It received the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2015 and is made using Aprecia’s proprietary ZipDose technology. The orodispersible tablet achieves full disintegration within seconds when in contact with liquid. Additionally, very high doses are achievable (up to 1,000mg), which are not typically possible through conventional methods. ZipDose technology uses a drop-on-solid printing technique […]

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