MB-Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical start-up, uses its MED-U Modular 3-D printer to provide personalized treatment on-demand to patients.
The company’s collaboration with healthcare institutions, such as the University Hospital Center of Nîmes, aims to create tailored medication production solutions for sick children. The company believes 3D printing can improve the quality of living for children and their parents.
“MB-Therapeutics is a startup based in Montpellier that offers a solution for the production of personalized medications through pharmaceutical 3D printing. Eight years of experience and research have allowed the company to develop a patient-centric solution that enables dose customization, form adaptation, and the ability to combine multiple active ingredients within a single medication,” said Stéphane Roulon, Co-founder & CEO of MB-Therapeutics.
Pharmaceutical industry gains from 3D printing
The company claims that the pharmaceutical industry is not able to meet the needs of children with specific medical conditions. In order to bridge this gap, pharmacists prepare medication with customized dosages. This practice is adopted by 38% children. Dr. Ian Soulairol highlights the lack of an automated method for creating personalized solid oral forms. Due to their size and active ingredients, capsules and tablets are not suitable for children. Liquid suspensions carry an administration error risk, as 40% of parents make dosing mistakes with their children’s medication.
MB-Therapeutics’ solution allows pharmacists to create personalized, easily administered medications, safeguarding against dosing errors. By harnessing the power of 3D printing technology, MB-Therapeutics facilitates the tailored production of oral forms, meeting each patient’s specific needs. This solution addresses the shortage of medication by automating high-quality production in community and hospital pharmacies. In addition, it makes a significant impact on healthcare by drastically cutting down on the 15,000 tons of medication waste that occurs every year in France.
3D printed medicine is being made more accessible. Triastek, a Chinese 3D printing company, has successfully completed its First-in-Human study (FIH) of T21. This 3D printed drug is designed to treat moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. According to the study’s imaging results, T21 tablets exhibit precise delivery and controlled release in the colon, where the drug takes effect. Manufactured using Triastek’s Melt Extrusion Deposition (MED) 3D printing process, these tablets ensure a highly focused and effective drug delivery mechanism.
Researchers at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), MERLN Institute and University College London have developed a 3D-printed tablet in just seven seconds. Volumetric printing cures entire vats of resin in a single step, as opposed to traditional layer by layer methods. It can greatly speed up the custom medication production process, which will be essential to advance clinical 3D printing.
Technical Specifications for MED-U Modular
| Printing Tool | FDA/Pharmaceutical-approved gels and filaments, Multi-filament and multi-gel options available for R&D purposes |
| Building volume | Ø390mm x 600mm |
| Layer height | 50 µm to >1mm |
| X, Y, Z resolution | 12.5μm, 12.5μm, 12.5μm |
| Removable Tool | Quick-release mechanism to remove mechanical, electronic and liquid cooling accessories. |
| Building surface | Removable, food/pharmaceutical-grade contact |
| Thermal environment | Heated build plate: 20°C to 180°C, Heated chamber: 20°C to 80°C, Liquid cooling for the tool |
| Safety and health of users | Double HEPA H14/activated charcoal filtration, machine-access locking mechanism |
| Alimentation | 230V AC 16,A 50-60Hz |
| You can also download the software. | Audit trail included in conformance with CFR 21 Part 11, Annex 11, 15, 16, |
| Dimensions | 913 × 851 × 1644 mm |
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Photo by MB-Therapeutics. Photo courtesy of MB-Therapeutics.