The world's first 3-D printed drug gets a nod from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Aprecia Pharmaceuticals announced Monday that FDA has approved its drug Spritam, which is prescribed for the treatment of seizures in children and adults suffering from epilepsy, The Street reports.
Spritam was manufactured using the drug company's ZipDose technology, which uses 3-D printing to create porous medicines that quickly dissolve with just a sip of liquid. This makes it easier for patients who have difficulty swallowing to take their medicines at the prescribed time and dosage. Aprecia's ZipDose technology is also able to create quickly dissolving drugs of up to 1,000 mg in a single dose.
"By combining 3DP technology with a highly-prescribed epilepsy treatment, Spritam is designed to fill a need for patients who struggle with their current medication experience," said Aprecia CEO Don Wetherhold, according to The Street.
Financial services and investment firm Wedbush Securities analyst Tao Levy pointed out that 3-D printing can allow drug companies to manufacture drugs based on the ''specifications of an individual patient rather than a one-size-fits-all kind of approach," Reuters reports.
This is not the first time that 3-D printing has been utilized for medical purposes. Orthopedic surgeons have made hip replacements and dentists have created jaw and teeth replicas and dental implants using the technology, according to Reuters.
FDA has previously approved medical devices like prosthetics developed through 3-D printing. More medical specialists are finding 3-D printing useful in creating customized implants, ABC News reports.
Spritam will be available on the first quarter of 2016, according to The Street.
