Aprecia’s 3D-printed Spritam now available in the US
Posted: 24 March 2016 | | No comments yet
Aprecia’s Spritam (levetiracetam) tablets, for oral suspension, are now available in the US as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial onset seizures, myoclonic seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Last year, Spritam made history when it became the first prescription drug product approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that is manufactured using 3D printing technology. This innovative product disintegrates in the mouth with a sip of liquid and offers a new option for patients, including those who may struggle to take their medicine.
“As we explored potential applications for our 3D printing technology in prescription drug products, it was important that we identified disease areas with a real need for patient-friendly forms of medication,” said Don Wetherhold, CEO of Aprecia. “Spritam is designed to transform what it is like to take epilepsy medication, and is the first in a line of products we are developing to provide patients and their caregivers with additional treatment options.”
Spritam may help patients with epilepsy adhere to medicine regimen
Spritam is formulated with Aprecia’s proprietary ZipDose Technology, which combines the precision of 3D printing and formulation science to produce rapidly disintegrating formulations of medications. Manufactured in a regulated commercial-scale facility, Spritam is available in four unit-dose strengths, including 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg and 1,000 mg.
Nearly three million people in the United States were living with active epilepsy in 2013, and about 150,000 new cases are being diagnosed every year in the country.
Swallowing challenges can make taking medication difficult. In fact, two separate online surveys found that as many as 50% of surveyed US adults – even those without epilepsy – have experienced difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules. Both surveys reported that 8% of those who reported swallowing difficulty also admitted to skipping doses of prescribed medication. In a separate survey conducted in epilepsy patients, adherence issues were shown to have the potential to undermine treatment outcomes, with results indicating that as many as 45% of epilepsy patients reported experiencing a seizure after missing a dose of their medication.
