The development of veterinary drugs is increasing and plays a critical role in treating, preventing, and controlling diseases in animals, which in turn safeguards human health by preventing zoonotic diseases and ensuring a safe food supply. In addition, with the growing pet care market, the demand for effective and safe veterinary treatments continues to rise.
However, developing drugs for veterinary applications presents unique challenges, particularly in formulation.
- The diversity of animal species: each species has a different physiology, metabolism, and digestive systems. Drugs that are effective in one species may not work the same way in another. For example, the absorption and bioavailability of oral medications can vary greatly between dogs, cats, horses, and cattle, necessitating different formulations for each species.
- Palatability is another major concern, especially for pets. Ensuring compliance from the pets requires careful attention to taste-masking and the use of excipients that are better tolerated. In some cases, formulations must be designed to hide the bitter taste of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) or to deliver the drug in a way that appeals to the animal’s behavior, such as chewable tablets for dogs.
- Stability and safety poses another challenge, as veterinary drugs must be robust enough to withstand different storage conditions on farms or in homes, while remaining active and safe for both animals and humans handling the product.
Addressing these formulation hurdles requires a combination of scientific expertise, regulatory knowledge, and an understanding of the specific needs of each animal species to deliver effective, safe, and easy-to-administer veterinary medications. Learn more about how we could help you by contacting us at pharmaceuticalservices@glatt.com