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picture 1.2 Aerial view of Pfizer.

Medicines
Making a new medicine
	We can think of three main stages in making a new medicine: Research and Development (R&D) Primary manufacture - making the active ingredient Secondary manufacture - formulating a medicine. You will find out more about each of these stages in chapters 3 to 5.

Picture 1.3 Some different formulations of medicines.

Formulating a medicine
	Medicines can be given to a patient in many different forms. In this resource we will refer to all forms of dosage as the medicine. Examples of different medicines are: tablets and capsules injections topical medicines (creams and ointments) inhalers syrups.

Question 1

Look at the formulations below. In each case decide how it is given and choose an example of a medicine that would use this formulation.

formulation	how it is given	medicine
a) topical
b) inhaler
c) syrup
d) injection
e) tablets

Contents	Close

1. Introduction to the pharmaceutical industry	5. Secondary manufacture
Medicines	Manufacturing tablets
2. Systems in pharmaceutical manufacture	Pressing
The tracking system	Coating
IT, delivery & control systems	6. Packaging
3. The development of a new medicine	The packaging process
4. Primary manufacture	7. What makes pharmaceutical manufacture different?
Chemical technology	7. What makes pharmaceutical manufacture different?
Biotechnology

Patches
Some medicines are held in patches which are stuck onto the skin. The medicine is absorbed into the body slowly and continuously. Hormone treatment can be given by skin patches.

Ointments, creams and powders
These are all applied directly to the skin in the affected area. They are called topical medicines. Antiseptics and antifungals (e.g. treatment for athlete’s foot) may be used in this way.

Injections Injections are a good way to deliver medicines to the place where they’re needed. The diagram shows how a medicine can be injected to different parts of the skin and other tissues. Medicines can also be injected directly into the bloodstream.
Emergency antidotes (e.g. antidotes to snake venom) are injected directly into the bloodstream for speed. Injections are also used for most types of immunisation.

Tablets and capsules
Tablets and capsules are useful because the dose is easily controlled and they can be stored without deteriorating. Some tablets are sucked or dispersed in water and swallowed (e.g. soluble aspirin). Gelatin capsules dissolve easily in the stomach, releasing the medicine which is absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream. Stomach acid destroys some medicines, so there are tablets coated with a substance which stops them dissolving until they reach the intestines.

Inhalers
Medicines can be breathed in using an inhaler. This delivers a fixed dose of medicine as a fine spray. The medicine is breathed straight into the lungs. People who have asthma use inhalers to get relief from breathing difficulties.

Syrups
Syrups are measured into a spoon and can be swallowed easily. They are often preferred by children, especially if they taste nice!

Roll your mouse over the different formulations in the picture to find out more about them.