Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii) Supports University Pharmaceutical Technology Education and Research

HUNT VALLEY, Md., May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii), a contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in the development of difficult to formulate compounds, announced today that it has made a grant to the University of Mississippi (UM). The funds will be utilized to support pharmaceutical education for graduate students, as well as a center devoted to research related to hot melt extrusion and other pharmaceutical processing technologies.

The Center, to be named the Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology, is directed by UM's Michael A. Repka, a leading researcher in the field of hot melt extrusion (HME) and thermal processing. The Pii Center will collaborate with private industry, government agencies and other universities to conduct research aimed at developing novel, cost-effective, patient-friendly and efficacious formulations for delivering new and existing pharmaceutical products.

"Hot melt extrusion offers multiple advantages over traditional processing techniques for pharmaceutical processing," said Repka, chair and professor of pharmaceutics and research professor in the UM School of Pharmacy's Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.  "HME is anhydrous, requires fewer processing steps, entails no organic solvents, requires no compression of active pharmaceutical ingredients and improves the bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs," said Repka. "Thanks to Pii's support, we will be able to greatly expand our research into how this advanced technology can be used to produce various dosage forms and improve drug delivery through oral and other routes."

A graduate of UM's Ph.D. program, Syed Abidi, chief executive officer of Pii, has remained active in the university's pharmaceutical education programs over the years. Pii's commitment to the university is further matched by the company's support of UM's Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award, which is given annually to a faculty member who has achieved national and/or international recognition in his or her field, and sponsorship of the School of Pharmacy's "Alumni and Friends Luncheon," which is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

"This generous gift from Pii to create the Center for Pharmaceutical Technology enables us to expand our research in drug delivery systems," said Alice Clark, vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs at UM and president of its Research Foundation, which is administering Pii's grant. "Our pharmaceutics faculty includes nationally recognized experts in hot melt extrusion processes to improve delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients," Clark said. "This new center will have a huge impact on accelerating the use of this advanced manufacturing process in the pharmaceutical industry, and we are grateful to Pii for making this possible."

After expanding the company's dosage form development and GMP manufacturing capabilities with the addition of hot melt extrusion, Pii recognized the need for additional graduate level education in the area. Given Dr. Abidi's affiliation to the university and Professor Repka's leadership in the field, the grant to the Center was a natural fit for Pii.

"Today's pharmacy students are tomorrow's healthcare leaders," said Dr. Abidi.  "Through this long-term commitment to UM, we are delighted to know our country's future pharmaceutical researchers will possess a better understanding of advanced and novel pharmaceutical processing technologies and the important role they play in the development of lifesaving medications."

About Pharmaceutics International, Inc.

Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii) is a privately held drug delivery solutions company providing dosage form development and GMP Manufacturing services to the global pharmaceutical industry. Pii's vision is to become the benchmark in pharmaceutical product development outsourcing. Headquartered in Hunt Valley Maryland USA with European development and manufacturing facilities in the UK, Pii offers preformulation testing, formulation development and clinical trial material and commercial manufacture of parenteral, solid, semi-solid and liquid dosage forms. For further information about Pii visit www.pharm-int.com.

The University of Mississippi Research Foundation

The University of Mississippi Research Foundation operates solely for the benefit of the university's scientific, literary, charitable and educational purposes.

The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences was created in 1964 to conduct research to discover, develop and market new products, improve public health and stimulate the economy.

The Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology

The Pii Center for Pharmaceutical Technology will collaborate with private industry, government agencies and other universities to conduct research aimed at developing novel, cost-effective, patient-friendly and efficacious formulations for delivering new and existing pharmaceutical products.

Contact:
Elizabeth Hickman, Marketing Manager
Pharmaceutics International, Inc.
10819 Gilroy Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21031
Phone: (443) 858-0768
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Pharmaceutics International, Inc. (Pii)