Platform technology refers to a standardized method, process, or system that can be applied across various applications in drug development and manufacturing.
By using a consistent approach or set of tools, pharmaceutical companies can streamline R&D efforts, reduce costs, enhance consistency, and accelerate product development.
Commonly Used Platform Technologies in Pharmacy:
1. Biologic Production Systems:
Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs): These are proteins designed to target specific components of the body, and they require specific cell lines for production. Once the production process is optimized for one mAb, it can be applied to others with minor modifications.
Recombinant Protein Production: Using bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cell cultures to produce therapeutic proteins is a platform that can be adapted for different proteins.
2. Drug Delivery Systems:
Liposomal Systems: Liposomes, spherical vesicles with at least one lipid bilayer, can encapsulate drugs to improve delivery, solubility, or biodistribution. Once a specific liposomal system is designed, it can be applied to various drugs.
Nanoemulsions and Micelles: Used to improve drug solubility and enhance absorption.
3. Gene and Cell Therapy Platforms:
Viral Vectors: Adenoviruses, lentiviruses, and adeno-associated viruses are commonly used vectors for gene therapy. Once the vector's delivery method is established, it can be loaded with various therapeutic genes.
CAR-T Cell Therapies: A method where a patient's T-cells are modified to attack cancer cells and then re-infused into the patient.
4. mRNA Platforms:
As popularized by the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, this platform uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response.
The base technology can be adjusted for different diseases.
5. High Throughput Screening (HTS):
Automated systems that allow rapid testing of thousands of compounds to identify potential drug candidates.
6. Continuous Manufacturing Platforms:
Instead of batch-wise production, continuous manufacturing processes drugs without interruption, enhancing efficiency and consistency.
7. 3D Printing of Drugs:
This technology allows for the customization of drug dosage forms, especially for personalized medicine approaches.
8. Nanotechnology Platforms:
Nanoparticles, dendrimers, and quantum dots have been explored for their potential in targeted drug delivery and diagnostics.
Benefits in Pharmacy
1. Accelerated Development:
With an established platform, the drug development process can be expedited, reducing the time from concept to clinic.
2. Cost Reduction:
The investments in developing and validating the platform can be spread across multiple products, leading to potential cost savings in the long run.
3. Enhanced Consistency and Quality:
Using a standardized approach can lead to greater consistency in product quality.
4. Scalability:
Once the platform technology is optimized, it is often easier to scale up for mass production.
5. Regulatory Familiarity:
As regulatory agencies become acquainted with a particular platform, subsequent regulatory approvals for products using the same platform might be streamlined.