The AutoCompounder allows for the easy creation of “poly-pills”, which combine different medications into one personalized pill.

3D printing is now making it possible for pharmacists to more efficiently produce custom drug doses for patients tailored to their individual needs. This movement is part of the continued effort towards more personalized health care.

Developed by Vitae Industries, a startup based in Rhode Island, the AutoCompounder 3D printer facilitates more effective dosing of medication.

Instead of patients having to sort through their pills and remember which doses they must take, this unique printer allows for a great simplification of their doses.

The AutoCompounder simply combines various medications into a single pill, as long as they are compatible. These so-called “poly-pills” usually would take a considerable time to fill, but the AutoCompounder significantly reduces the time it takes. It can print pills within a fraction of the time it would cost most pharmacists to fill custom capsules by hand.

The AutoCompiler (Image: Vitae Industries)

“Standard commercially available doses of many prescription drugs on the market are not right for many people. Enabling pharmacies to easily provide doses tailored to each individual’s needs may help transform medicine and improve the health of significant populations by treating the individual, not the mythical statistical average,” says Jeanine Sinanan-Singh, CEO of Vitae Industries.

As part of a three-stage process, a pharmaceutical bond is created that combines the selected medications with Vitae Industries’ proprietary excipient mixture.

In the second stage, the single-use cartridge is filled with the compound and inserted into the AutoCompounder. Lastly, pharmacists simply enter a dose and quantity and start the process.

Vitae Industries plans to launch the printer with a retail price of around $5,000. The company has already won over numerous investors including Techstars, BoxGroup, and Lerer Hippeau Ventures. Together, they have invested $2 million into the startup.

A limited pilot program for the AutoCompiler 3D printer will roll out during the first quarter in 2018.

Source: vitaeindustries.com