Emerging trends in pharma formulation development

We, the Indian pharma industry stands at the beginning of a transformative era.

- Dr. T.N.K. Suriyaprakash and Dr A Sumathi

Already earned global recognition as the “Pharmacy of the World” for its dominance in the generics market, India is now moving towards innovation-driven growth, a long pending one.

The U.S. share (>40% of generic prescriptions, see Table 1) underlines how dependent key regulated markets are on Indian manufacturers. The focus is shifting from replicating existing formulations to creating novel, patient-centric, individualized, cost- effective and technology-enabled drug delivery systems.

The next phase of progress in Indian pharma lies in advancing drug formulation -from the development of Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) to the exploration of 3D printing technologies and personalized medicines.

This technology not only increases therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance but also align with the evolving expectations of global healthcare systems that emphasize precision, sustainability, and accessibility.

NDDS redefining therapeutic efficiency

The concept of NDDS in India has evolved markedly from simple controlled-release tablets to highly advanced systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, phytosomes, microspheres, and transdermal patches. The goal of NDDS is not merely to improve bioavailability but to achieve targeted, sustained, and safer drug delivery.

From conventional to advanced systems

India's initial NDDS efforts focused on oral sustained-release systems in the 1990s. Gradually, Indian scientists and formulators embraced polymeric systems, osmotic pumps, and mucoadhesive technologies. Today, the emphasis has expanded toward nanotechnology-based systems such as:

• Liposomal and niosomal carriers (e.g., Amphotericin B liposomes),

• Polymeric nanoparticles for anticancer and antiviral agents,