Skip to Main ContentSkip to FooterSkip to Search
Main menu
  1. Home
  2.  » 
  3. Oral Dose
  4.  » 
  5. Dose Form Design
  6.  » Orally Disintegrating Tablets

Zydis® Fast Dissolve Technology Platform

CATALENT’S BEST-IN-CLASS FAMILY OF FAST DISSOLVE TECHNOLOGIES
The Zydis® ODT (orally dissolving tablet) fast-dissolve formulation, is a unique, freeze-dried oral solid dosage form that disperses almost instantly in the mouth – no water required. With more than 20 products launched in 60 countries, it continues to be the world’s best-in-class ODT technology. Our Zydis® fast dissolve team is the best trained in the world, offering feasibility evaluations as well as support across the entire lifecycle of your product. Whether you are considering an ODT to enhance pharmacokinetics through pre-gastric absorption, looking for a way to improve patient compliance, or seeking a marketing advantage for a valued brand, Zydis® fast dissolve can help enhance the value of your investment and accelerate your product’s potential.

Back to top

CUSTOMER BENEFITS

  • Better pregastric absorption for certain drug compounds
  • More efficient delivery
  • Ideal for certain indications
  • Protection from counterfeiting
  • A wider range of application:
    • Dysphagia
    • Pediatric and geriatric application
    • Fast Onset
    • Ease of use
  • A wide range of therapeutic areas
    • Anti-psychotic (Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia)
    • Anti-emetic (Travel sickness)
    • Gastro (Diarrhea, Constipation)
    • Allergy (Anti histamine, immunotherapy)
    • Anxiolytic (Anti-depressants)



Case Study: Zydis® Fast Dissolve Technologies – Rapid Onset in the Treatment of Migraine

Back to top

VALUABLE PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION

  • High level of customer preference
  • Enhanced market appeal
  • Rapid onset of action
  • Multiple colors and shapes
  • Embossing with corporate logos and product codes
  • Unique packaging, including child-resistant options
  • Taste masking and flavors formulated for specific markets, including pediatrics and veterinary medicine

Back to top

HOW IT WORKS

Back to top

ZYDIS® ULTRA

Innovation in Progress:

  • Same dissolution profile
  • Greater taste masking capabilities
  • Increased doses > 400mg
  • Functional coating for controlled / sustained release applications
  • High speed manufacturing
  • On-line printing for flexible solutions
  • Wider range of application

Ideal for consumer health (OTC), and to mask bitter or strong tasting API

Back to top

ZYDIS® BIO

The ability through class-leading Zydis® ODT technology to deliver fast dissolve formulations of large molecule allergens, viral vaccines, and peptides.

The challenges of oral delivery of proteins & peptides well documented and are not limited to:

  • pH
  • Peptidase & proteolytic enzyme activity
  • Potential interaction with other constituents of GI fluids
  • High molecular weight

Zydis®  Bio sub-lingual delivery overcomes these challenges:

  • Avoids harsh environment of GIT
  • Use of bio-adhesives / absorption enhancers
  • Pre-gastric delivery (e.g. buccal, sublingual, oesophageal)
  • pH relatively neutral (5.5 – 7.2 depending on salivary flow rate)

Benefits of Zydis®  Bio for peptide & protein drugs

  • Potential for sublingual / buccal absorption
  • Solid, unit doses presented in protective pack
  • Low temperature processing minimizes manufacturing losses of labile drugs
  • Solution / suspension dosing achieves good content uniformity for low dose actives
  • Solid dosage form and low water activity aids long term stability
  • Liquid processing facilitates containment of potent drugs in production

Back to top

HOW IT IS MADE

Stage 1 – Mixing
The bulk API is formulated into a liquid solution or suspension.

Stage 2 – Filling and freezing
The liquid is precisely filled into pre-formed blisters and passed through a specially designed cryogenic freezing process to control the ultimate size of the ice crystals.

Stage 3 – Lyophilization
The frozen units are then transferred to large-scale freeze dryers for the lyophilization process.

Stage 4 – Sealing
The blisters containing the dried Zydis® units are then sealed via a heat-seal process to protect the product from varying environmental conditions and ensure long-term stability.

A Zydis tablet is made using lyophilization. Firstly, the bulk API is formulated into a liquid solution or suspension. The liquid is then precisely filled into pre-formed blisters and passed through a cryogenic freezing process to control the size of the ice crystals, before the units are transferred to large-scale lyophilizers. Given that tablets made by freeze-drying can be sensitive to environmental conditions, the sealing and packaging process is also important. The blisters are subject to a heat-seal process to protect the product from varying environmental conditions and to ensure long-term stability.

Back to top

CATALENT CAPABILITIES

Through expert analysis and interpretation of data, our Zydis®  fast dissolve technology team will fully characterize your API and associated Zydis® formulations throughout the development process to provide a robust data package in support of regulatory filings.

  • Feasibility programs & development teams
    • Tailored to meet the known product requirements such as API unit dose
    • Consideration of the relevant API characteristics identified during the technical evaluation of preformulation data
    • A range of prototype Zydis® formulations prepared under different processing conditions (bench-scale); analytical techniques applied as appropriate to determine the compatibility of a candidate API with the Zydis® technology
    • Short-term (4 week) accelerated physical stability studies typically undertaken before recommendations for a full development program are made
  • Operational excellence and efficiency via Lean Six Sigma principles
  • Full in-house analytical and regulatory services 
    • Full characterization of your API and associated Zydis® formulations via expert analysis and interpretation of data throughout the development process to provide a robust data package in support of regulatory filings
      • Smart full-lifecycle management from molecule to market – with Lean efficiency standards
      • Expert handling and maximization of potent and controlled drugs
      • Bench, pilot, and full-scale cGMP manufacturing

Back to top

CATALENT SERVICES

We employ the most advanced equipment for our Zydis® fast dissolve preformulations and formulations. The resulting data is used to direct the selection of Zydis® formulators and manufacturing process conditions.

Optical microscopy
Characterizes the API crystal form and identifies any changes during formulation and processing

Freeze-drying microscopy
Identifies critical formulation parameters such as collapse temperature, eutectic/glass transition temperature

Particle size analysis (laser diffraction)
Determines particle size ranges relevant to Zydis® suspension stability for insoluable API

Dynamic Vapor Sorption
Characterizes moisture sorption properties and physical stability of lyophilized formulation in humidity

Characterization of hydrates and polymorphs

X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD)
Characterizes solid-state phrase behavior

Characterization of moisture sorption properties and physical analytical chemistry (HPLC, UV, NIR, FTIR)
Chemical analysis of API in support of preformulation studies (e.g., solubility determinations, compatibility testing)

Back to top

FACILITIES

Our Swindon, U.K. facility is dedicated to Zydis® unit production.

  • Swindon, U.K.
    • Research and development
    • Pilot line with controlled and potent drug capabilities
    • FDA and MCA audited Controlled drug capabilities

All of our sites are subject to annual review so we can remain in highest compliance with:

  • FDA/cGMP
  •  Canadian HPB
  • British MHRA
  • European Community