Is Wurster Processing The Right Choice For My Multiparticulate Modified Release Dosage Form?

By Richard Sidwell, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Societal™ CDMO

Multiparticulate formulations offer numerous benefits for modified release dosage forms. They allow for the delivery of multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with different dissolution profiles. They make it possible to create a modular and tunable capsule finished product where pellet populations with different APIs or different API release profiles may be filled separately. This allows adjustment of API contents and makes release rates relatively simple, facilitating adjustments to pharmacokinetic and clinical performance. These formulations can also reduce the effect of food on absorption and lessen side effects, such as gastrointestinal irritation. For these reasons, you may have already decided that a multiparticulate format is the best way to get the performance you need for the modified release dosage form you are developing.

Wurster processing is a common and appropriate choice for this purpose. But is it the best one? This article outlines what you need to consider when determining whether Wurster processing is right for your multiparticulate modified release dosage form, as well as general information to assist in discussions with your CDMO.