Optimizing the formulation of poorly water-soluble drugs

Abstract

With as high as 60 % of drugs in company pipelines exhibiting poor aqueous solubility, the ability to successfully develop a poorly water-soluble drug has become essential. Gaining a detailed understanding of a compound through preformulation studies can be especially challenging for poorly water-soluble drugs limiting their development. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the application of preformulation studies essential in understanding a poorly water-soluble drug, including solubility studies, solid-state characterization of the active ingredient and formulations thereof, and in vitro and in vivo testing of the lead formulations.