Pharmaceutical patent applications in freeze drying.
Injectable products are often the formulation of choice for new therapeutics; however, formulation in liquids often enhances degradation through hydrolysis. Thus, freeze drying (lyophilization) is regularly used in pharmaceutical manufacture to reduce water activity. Here we examine its contribution to 'state of the art' and look at its future potential uses. A comprehensive search of patent databases was conducted to characterize the international patent landscape and trends in the use of freeze drying. A total of 914 disclosures related to freeze drying, lyophilization or drying of solid systems in pressures and temperatures equivalent to those of freeze drying were considered over the period of 1992 2014. Current applications of sublimation technology were contrasted across two periods those with patents due to expire (1992 1993) and those currently filed. The number of freeze drying technology patents has stabilized after initial activity across the biotechnology sector in 2011 and 2012. Alongside an increasing trend for patent submissions, freeze drying submissions have slowed since 2002 and is indicative of a level of maturity.
Pharmaceutical patent analyst