PDS in the pharmaceutical industry generally refers to Pharmaceutical Delivery Systems. These systems focus on optimizing how drugs are administered to patients to improve efficacy, safety, and patient adherence.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Definition: Pharmaceutical Delivery Systems (PDS) encompass the methods and technologies used to transport a pharmaceutical compound to its site of action within the body. The goal is to control the rate of drug release, the location of release, and the overall drug exposure profile.
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Key Goals of PDS:
- Enhanced Efficacy: Delivering the right amount of drug to the right location to maximize therapeutic effect.
- Reduced Side Effects: Minimizing off-target drug exposure to reduce adverse reactions.
- Improved Patient Adherence: Making drug administration more convenient and less frequent.
- Controlled Release: Releasing the drug at a predetermined rate (e.g., sustained-release, delayed-release).
- Targeted Delivery: Delivering the drug directly to the affected tissue or cells (e.g., cancer therapy).
- Protection of the Drug: Protecting the drug from degradation before it reaches its target.
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Examples of Pharmaceutical Delivery Systems:
- Oral Dosage Forms: Tablets, capsules, liquids, and suspensions (including modified-release formulations).
- Injections: Intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC) injections, including pre-filled syringes and autoinjectors.
- Inhalers: Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs), and nebulizers.
- Transdermal Patches: Delivering drugs through the skin.
- Implants: Surgically implanted devices that release drugs over an extended period.
- Nanoparticles and Liposomes: Microscopic carriers that can deliver drugs directly to target cells.
- Microneedles: Tiny needles that painlessly deliver drugs through the skin.
- Ocular Delivery Systems: Eye drops, ointments, and implants.
- Nasal Delivery Systems: Sprays and drops that deliver drugs through the nasal passages.
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Jabil Healthcare's Role (Reference-Based): As highlighted in the reference, Jabil Healthcare's Pharmaceutical Delivery Systems (PDS) business focuses on:
- Inhalers: Devices used to deliver medication directly to the lungs.
- Injectables: Devices and systems for administering drugs via injection.
In summary, PDS in pharma focuses on innovative technologies and methods to optimize drug delivery, improving patient outcomes and treatment effectiveness.