In the past 10 years, 3D printing technology seems to make all excited again. From fashion to firearms shells, 3D printing technology infiltrated plays force for change. Today, they are to enter the pharmaceutical industry - at least so it seems.

Earlier this month, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first section by 3D printing technology to produce the drugs, called Spritam levetiracetam.This is a tool for reducing seizures in patients with epilepsy drugs, carried out by the US pharmaceutical company Aprecia Development. Unlike machine to produce pills, the drug is the active drug and inactive ingredients placed layers, made use of 3D printing technology.

Customization drugs

This particular process can help patients achieve custom personalized medicine. Aprecia company believes that through the various parts of a single dose configuration, 3D printing technology allows each piece drugs are absorbed more and more patients benefit from the efficacy.

According to Aprecia's argument, this company via a special process print out of pills can quickly decompose within 10 seconds. Some experts, doctors have epilepsy hope to provide a reliable and appropriate drug dose, which was finally can be realized.

Aprecia is the first use of 3D printing technology, pharmaceutical companies, although there can only assume it was a success, but it also means that it has a self-developed core technology.

Spritam website claiming Aprecia company already has more than 50 3D printing technology to protect its patents and 3D printing, and these patents will help the company remain competitive advantage, until 2033.

A change or return to tradition

However, 3D printing could change in other areas, like the pharmaceutical industry as the remodeling is hard to say.

In the past 50 years, we produce the drug in the factory and then transported to the hospital, a medicine lecturer, said, 3D printing technology means that we can produce first tablet closer to the patient.

But it does not say that this democracy is Aprecia company's goals. The company does not explicitly say that they are 3D printers will be installed in a doctor's office or hospital. Aprecia might some of these machines in the factory, according to market demand to print out the normal dose of the drug. In that case on the now customary pharmaceutical methods, there is no substantial change.

Of course, if Aprecia managed to make the process of drug closer to the patient, we will go beyond centralized and large-scale production trend.

In other words, these customized medicine, even if the manufacturer is willing to spend Costly production, but patients can afford it?