Digital: AI in Tablet Design

IPT speaks to Michael Ruch at TaBlitz about the use of AI in tablet design, why it’s effective and how it will develop in the future

Michael Ruch (MR): TaBlitz is a first-of-its-kind AI-powered 3D tablet design software, housing deep learning models that guide and suggest our customers to more effective designs from the infant phases of the drug development process. Minimising iterations, expediting development and streamlining knowledge transfer between internal departments and external vendors while providing critical data and rapid analysis of designs, TaBlitz is poised to solidify its role as the cornerstone of transformative drug development practices.

The foundation and goals of TaBlitz are best described by its four core elements: baseline for a given formulation. All while keeping a patient-centric perspective throughout the design and development process.

Predict

TaBlitz prediction models generate optimal tablet designs by leveraging the intelligence of its design score to train the software’s AI models on how to respond to a variety of inputs.

This provides a fundamental baseline to reduce R&D iterations while developing a robust tablet.

Analyse

TaBlitz provides a comprehensive data output that allows our users to quickly digest the vast array of predictions output by the platform. A user can review key metrics and associate design integrity with compression force and dissolution profiles.

Optimise

Providing the data in an easy format for rapid consumption, TaBlitz enables you to adjust and refine critical parameters to predict the most optimal

Create

Moving from concept and design onto testing, TaBlitz makes it easy to transfer your design to your tooling vendor, providing all the data needed to produce your R&D tools and even production tooling as you approach scale up.

It also provides raw material cost, consumption and manufacturing output, making the time from the first attempt to the final result minimal, accurate and fast.

MR: The current use of AI in tablet design, particularly in the context of geometrical predictions, involves leveraging advanced algorithms to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of designing tablet shapes and structures. TaBlitz stands out as a leading AI tablet design software in this niche. By focusing on these geometrical predictions influenced by formulation characteristics, TaBlitz exemplifies the cutting-edge application of AI in tablet design, streamlining the development process and ensuring that the final product is both functional and efficient.

TaBlitz distinguishes itself as the only AI-powered tablet design software currently available, offering unparalleled predictive capabilities, right-first-time design principles, comprehensive database integration and continuous improvement. Its unique position in the market, combined with real-world benefits, makes it an indispensable tool for pharmaceutical companies aiming to optimise their tablet development processes and achieve superior product outcomes.

MR: Some benefits include:

Optimisation of tablet shapes

TaBlitz uses AI to predict the optimal geometrical design of tablets. This ensures that the tablets not only have the desired aesthetic appeal, but also meet specific functional criteria, such as ease of swallowing, and optimal surface area and volume based on user target.

Customisation and personalisation

AI in TaBlitz allows for high levels of customisation, catering to specific requirements of different pharmaceutical products. Based on vast data sets, the software can recommend unique geometrical designs tailored to formulation characteristics.

Quality assurance

The AI-driven predictions ensure that the designed tablets adhere to stringent quality standards. By foreseeing potential issues related to geometrical inconsistencies, manufacturers can address them early in the design process, thereby enhancing the overall quality of the final product.

Data-driven insights

TaBlitz utilises AI to provide data-driven insights into the design process. This includes analysing trends and patterns from previous designs throughout the industry to inform new projects, ultimately leading to innovative and effective tablet designs.

MR: Using AI in tablet design comes with several challenges, particularly when dealing with specific formulations and fundamental characteristics that can impact the strive for perfection. Here are the main challenges and how they can be mitigated, particularly with the help of TaBlitz:

Complex formulations

The variability in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients, each with unique physical and chemical properties, complicates the prediction of their behaviour in tablet form. Additionally, the potential for APIs and excipients to interact in unpredictable ways further challenges tablet design by influencing stability, dissolution rate and bioavailability.

Geometrical constraints

Designing tablets that are both effective and easy to swallow requires careful consideration of shape and size, which can be difficult to optimise. Furthermore, ensuring that tablets possess the necessary mechanical properties to withstand manufacturing processes and avoid defects such as chipping, sticking and picking presents a significant challenge.

Solid starting point

TaBlitz comes with pre-trained models that have been developed using extensive data sets, providing a solid starting point for new tablet designs. The software also incorporates a wealth of knowledge on various formulation characteristics and their interactions impact the overall tablet design, allowing for more accurate initial predictions.

Quick adjustments

TaBlitz allows for quick modifications based on the results from the initial prediction. This provides a rapid approach to refinement driving toward an optimal result. Changes to a tablet design are visualised instantly, allowing designers to see the impact of adjustments without delay. These changes are evaluated in real time, and suggestions are predicted and presented to the user for improvements found for their design. to accommodate new considerations from the initial prediction. Expediting the ease to make slight adjustments from test results. Advanced visualisation tools provide a clear view of how changes will affect the tablet’s appearance and performance.

MR: End users have experienced several positive changes as a result of using TaBlitz.

Geometrical optimisation

TaBlitz allows for the exploration of a wide range of geometrical designs, helping to identify shapes that balance manufacturability, tool life and patient compliance. The software includes tools for analysing the mechanical properties of tablet designs, with respect to formulation characteristics, ensuring they are robust and durable.

Intuitive design tools

The interface allows for easy manipulation of tablet designs, enabling designers to make quick geometric adjustments

By promoting right-first-time design principles and eliminating the complexities associated with developing geometrically stable oral solid dosage forms, TaBlitz has transformed the tablet design process in the following ways:

Minimising development cycles

TaBlitz’s predictive capabilities allow for accurate first-time designs, significantly reducing the need for multiple iterations and trial-and-error approaches. This streamlines the development process, saving both time and resources. The ability to quickly finalise tablet designs means that products can move from concept to market-ready stages much faster, giving companies a competitive edge.

Reduced development costs

By getting the design right the first time, TaBlitz reduces the need for multiple iterations and extensive physical testing, leading to significant cost savings. Optimised designs ensure that materials are used efficiently, reducing waste and associated labour costs due to iterative test batches.

Streamlined teamwork

TaBlitz enables teams to collaborate in real time, enhancing communication and ensuring that design adjustments are made quickly and efficiently. The software’s comprehensive data integration and visualisation tools allow for shared insights and more informed decision-making across different departments.

MR: There will be many developments in AI tablet design, including:

Enhanced predictive accuracy

AI algorithms will become more advanced, leading to even more accurate predictions of tablet performance, stability and manufacturability, further minimising iterations. The incorporation of larger and more diverse data sets will enhance the robustness of AI models, making predictions more reliable.

Personalised medicine

AI will enable the creation of highly customised tablet designs tailored to individual patient needs, supporting the trend towards personalised medicine. Feedback from customers will allow for the continuous adjustment of algorithms to optimise therapeutic outcomes.

Active collaboration with regulatory bodies and industry experts will keep TaBlitz at the cutting edge of compliance and best practices.

Incorporating customer feedback

TaBlitz will establish robust feedback mechanisms to gather insights from end users regularly. This feedback will be crucial for identifying areas of improvement and new features needed by customers. By prioritising user feedback, TaBlitz will evolve to better meet the specific needs and challenges faced by pharmaceutical designers and manufacturers.

Expanding AI capabilities

Continuous improvements in machine learning techniques will allow TaBlitz to offer more sophisticated features, such as real-time optimisation and predictive maintenance. Integration with Internet of Things (IoT) devices in manufacturing facilities will provide real-time data, enabling more responsive and adaptive AI-driven design processes.

Continuous innovation

Ongoing investment in R&D will ensure that TaBlitz remains at the forefront of technological advancements in AI and tablet design. Regular updates and the introduction of new features will keep TaBlitz at the forefront, offering users the most advanced tools for tablet design.

In the next five years, AI in tablet design will drive significant advancements in the pharmaceutical industry, leading to more accurate, personalised and sustainable tablet formulations. TaBlitz will continue to lead this evolution through a continuous improvement model, staying current with industry requirements, incorporating customer feedback, leveraging data analytics and expanding its AI capabilities. By doing so, TaBlitz will ensure it provides the most comprehensive and cutting-edge AI tablet design solutions, helping end users achieve the highest standards of innovation and efficiency in their product development processes.

Staying current with industry requirements

TaBlitz will continuously update its software to align with the latest industry regulations and guidelines, ensuring that tablet designs are always compliant with current standards.