Understanding Protein Formulation Development Processes

By Stacey Burt


Every now and then, researchers in the medical field are tasked to come up with a drug. This may prove difficult especially if the drug components include protein substrates. It is likely that they conduct protein formulation development and formulation studies which should be complete by the time clinical trials commence.

When conducting formulation studies, the aim of the researcher is usually to develop a new drug. This has to be a stable, and also auger with the selective needs of the patients. These are usually incorporated into various forms such as tablets or capsules. Apart from the drug itself, the tablets usually contain other substances which should also be compatible with each other. Hence making them adjustable and efficient to use.

Proteins are known to have complex structures. These structures also have the characteristic of being delicate and easily change when subjected to clinical tests. Hence they require specialized attention to ensure these inevitable changes do not alter the performance of end product. Therefore, adequate resources must be available for these extra care.

Due to the complexity of its structure, and since it is also very delicate, it is practically impossible to extract a pharmaceutical drug containing only the native and pure protein. The process would prove futile due to inefficiencies from the denatured and degraded protein forms. The very process would prove to be too expensive resource wise.

Maintaining the integrity of this protein would be difficult, even with the extraction of pure strands. The shelf life would be drastically reduced and the instability of the same heightened. The processes of handling and transportation and delivery would need to be done with extreme caution. However, the strand would have the advantage of having neither chemical nor physical change.

The structure of this protein itself is a limiting factor. The three dimensional and naturally delicate nature also keep researchers from easily achieving purity and stability of the strand. In this case, the formulations have to be developed with the allowance that there will be inevitable chemical changes in the nature of particular protein.

With the restrictions facing product development, the focus shifts to determining the degradation and fragmentation associated with the product. This is essentially foretold to avoid problems of losing vital information and product characteristics that are key in the formulation development. Regulatory frameworks also need to be followed to avoid jurisdictional problems.

There exists certain regulations on the testing and safety of personnel as well the samples. These guidelines also outline the necessary steps in collection and storage. They also extend to pre-clinical tests which should always be conducted before the formulation development process.

The intrinsic details of the process of formulation development should be appreciate in regard to the extensive nature of this process. Some of its aspects are not viable nor applicable in real essence and further research is recommended to ensure the untapped nature of this process is determined. Some of these regulations should also be reviewed to give leeway for further intricate research and tests. Much have been done but does not mark the end of it. Researches are ongoing.




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