Creating A Taste Masked And Easily Swallowed Malaria Drug For Elderly Patients

While hydroxychloroquine sulfate’s tablet form is usually an easy and convenient way for most patients to achieve compliance, there are patient populations that have difficulty swallowing tablets or who can’t swallow them at all. Dysphagia — difficulty swallowing — often leads to a sharp decline in treatment compliance and disproportionately affects the elderly. In one study, 69% of older patients reported missing or deliberately skipping doses because of their difficulty swallowing.

Geriatric populations are also more susceptible to malaria, and the effects of the disease on the elderly are far greater than on younger people. This study examines the formulation process required to create an easily swallowed version of hydroxychloroquine sulfate for the elderly and other patients who suffer from dysphagia. Learn how a microencapsulation process enabled successful formulation of a water-soluble powder that helps drive patient adherence.