Recent Advancements in Pharmaceutical 3D Printing Industry

The pharmaceutical industry is progressing swiftly, driven by innovations that have led to the discovery of novel active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), along with new delivery platforms and technologies. Despite these advancements, traditional processing methods continue to encounter significant challenges in delivering new chemical entities. Many of these entities exhibit inherent issues such as poor solubility and permeability, which result in low bioavailability. Furthermore, there are constraints in customizing and delivering medications tailored to the pharmacokinetic variability of paediatric and geriatric patients, highlighting the need for advanced technological solutions in drug delivery. Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, represents one such technological breakthrough in the pharmaceutical sector. This review examines the latest advancements in 3D printing technology and its applications within the field. It focuses on the implementation of various 3D printing techniques to design and create dosage forms for multiple delivery routes, addressing the unique challenges posed by each route. In addition to exploring the research involved in developing novel formulations, the review also considers the regulatory hurdles that must be overcome to bring these dosage forms to market. It evaluates the market demand and financial considerations of this segment, assessing the feasibility of scaling up production to meet the requirements of the target patient population.