|
CAMBRIDGE, UK – 25
January 2008 – TeraView,
the pioneer and leader in terahertz
solutions and technology for the pharmaceutical and
life science industry, announces that it has conducted
successful proof of principle for high speed measurements
of coating thickness on tablets applicable to on-line
tablet inspection. The non-contact, non-destructive
technique may also be extended to on-line measurement
of other key product attributes, such as coating
or core density tablets delamination and many other
parameters characterising the performance of drugs
which TeraView has identified with its products and
collaborators.
In previous studies with
its pharmaceutical customers, TeraView has demonstrated
that its terahertz products and solutions can help
to accelerate drug development and design of new
formulations, improve product quality and maintain
in-specification product to minimise the risk of
regulatory non-compliance. Published studies with
the Food & Drug Administration
(FDA) have also illustrated how terahertz might be
used to replace wet dissolution testing which serve
as an indicator of drug release.
TeraView’s
most recent innovation represents an important step
forward addressing one of the most difficult problems
to be overcome in on-line pharmaceutical inspection;
namely measuring product attributes like coating
thickness accurately and rapidly while the tablets
are in random motion in a coating pan. This capability
opens up the opportunity for deployment of terahertz
sensors in rapid, non-destructive tablet inspection
to ensure that pharmaceutical products remain within
the specifications necessary to ensure therapeutic
efficacy and drug performance. Ultimately, such sensors
could also be used in feedback systems to control
production parameters (e.g. coating spray rates,
tablet compression force for single and multiple
layer tablets) in real time. This technique could
also support the pharmaceutical industry’s
future plans to implement continuous process systems
in drug manufacture.
When combined with TeraView’s existing multiple
sensor platforms and strong, proprietary applications
know-how, this innovation greatly enhances the Company’s
intellectual property base in the pharmaceutical
area to provide complete solutions to meet customer
needs.
TeraView is now actively exploring on-line deployment
through prototype development with its existing customer
base, and welcomes discussions with other interested
parties.
Paddy O’Kelly, Chief Operating Officer of
TeraView commented: “This initial demonstration
is a natural extension of our terahertz sensors developed
for other industries as well as our analytical know-how
cultivated in close collaboration with the pharmaceutical
industry and the regulators over the past few years.
This is another world first for TeraView”.
Dr Don Arnone, Chief Executive
Officer of TeraView added: “This study is exciting news for our
pharmaceutical customers. It enables us to provide
Terahertz solutions to address their business issues
from early stage product development all the way
through to assuring product performance during manufacture. It
is also good news for the Company because it has
the potential to expand our footprint in the pharmaceutical
manufacturing market in the future.
TeraView’s proprietary platform uses the terahertz
spectrum between light and radio waves and offers
the advantage of being non-invasive and non-destructive.
Past studies have demonstrated how terahertz uniquely
provides 3 dimensional and chemical information on
the contents of tablets and capsules normally invisible
to conventional techniques.
Previous studies, including
the FDA’s “Delayed
Release Tablet Dissolution Related To Coating Thickness
By Terahertz Pulsed Image Mapping” have been
published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and
other leading pharmaceutical journals.
Terahertz light is unique
in its ability to non-destructively image tablets
and other dosage forms. X-ray and infrared frequently
lack sensitivity or penetration and cannot produce
such images without first destroying the tablet.
TeraView currently works closely with blue chip
customers in the pharmaceutical industry who are
exploring the use of terahertz in product and process
development and quality control of finished product
in manufacturing.
TeraView is the world’s first company devoted
to the application of terahertz light for spectroscopy
and imaging in pharmaceutical drug development and
manufacture. TeraView’s technology can improve
the quality of pharmaceutical products and decrease
the risk of regulatory non-compliance, leading to
potentially safer tablets and savings arising from
faster times to market and volume production of higher
quality, stable products. Other markets for the technology
exist in early stage cancer detection, defence and
industrial inspection which are explored via commercial
partners. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, TeraView
was spun-out of the Toshiba Cambridge Research Laboratory
in April 2001. Sales and support are available throughout
Europe, North America and the Far East either directly
or through a network of distributors.
– ends –
For further information, please contact:
In the UK:
Dr Don Arnone, Chief Executive Officer, TeraView
Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1223 435383
don.arnone@teraview.com
In North America:
Edward Pankau, TeraView Ltd
Tel: +1 847 426 6247
edward.pankau@teraview.com
Press enquiries to:
Helen Thurley, TeraView Ltd
+44 (0)1223 435 380
helen.thurley@teraview.com
|
