Technology | Aquestive Therapeutics

PharmFilm was developed to provide meaningful clinical and therapeutic differentiation to better meet the needs of patients, caregivers, and physicians. Similar in size and thickness to a stamp, PharmFilm can provide potentially faster onset of action, improved dosing accuracy, and can be administered without water – attributes that can significantly improve compliance and adherence. Failure to take medication as prescribed takes a tremendous toll, especially on those with complex diseases to manage. Non-adherence has been associated with as many as 40 percent of nursing home admissions and with an additional $2,000 a year per patient in medical costs for physician visits.¹

1[Medication Compliance-Adherence-Persistence Digest, American Pharmacists Association, 2003]

Here’s more information about PharmFilm

Potential advantages of the PharmFilm technology platform

For Commercial Partners	For Patients	For Physicians
Worldwide leader in oral film drug delivery and manufacturing Recognized partner of choice Extensive global IP protection Customizable delivery routes for tailored PK profiles (buccal, sublingual, or lingual options)	Simplified, independent, and discrete administration for patients and caregivers Potential faster onset of action Improved dosing accuracy, especially for patients with physical or psychological barriers to other delivery systems Potential reduction of adverse GI events Suitable for those suffering from dysphagia Stable, durable, portable, and quick-dissolving Can be administered without water Customizable taste profiles	Ensures full-dose delivery Treatment option that offers patient-friendly administration Ability to titrate through starter packs Potential direct delivery to bloodstream reduced GI side effects lower dose exposures with comparable PK profiles

For Commercial Partners

For Patients

For Physicians

Worldwide leader in oral film drug delivery and manufacturing

Recognized partner of choice

Extensive global IP protection

Customizable delivery routes for tailored PK profiles (buccal, sublingual, or lingual options)

Simplified, independent, and discrete administration for patients and caregivers

Potential faster onset of action

Improved dosing accuracy, especially for patients with physical or psychological barriers to other delivery systems

Potential reduction of adverse GI events

Suitable for those suffering from dysphagia

Stable, durable, portable, and quick-dissolving

Can be administered without water

Customizable taste profiles

Ensures full-dose delivery

Treatment option that offers patient-friendly administration

Ability to titrate through starter packs

Potential direct delivery to bloodstream

reduced GI side effects
lower dose exposures with comparable PK profiles

Potential advantages of the PharmFilm technology platform

For Commercial Partners

Worldwide leader in oral film drug delivery and manufacturing

Recognized partner of choice

Extensive global IP protection

Customizable delivery routes for tailored PK profiles (buccal, sublingual, or lingual options)

For Patients

Simplified, independent, and discrete administration

Potential faster onset of action

Improved dosing accuracy, especially for patients with physical or psychological barriers to other delivery systems

Potential reduction of adverse GI events

Suitable for those suffering from dysphagia

Stable, durable, portable, and quick-dissolving

Can be administered without water

Customizable taste profiles

Improved patient and caregiver administration experience

For Physicians

Ensures full-dose delivery

Treatment option that offers patient-friendly administration

Ability to titrate through starter packs

Potential direct delivery to bloodstream
– reduced GI side effects
– lower dose exposures with comparable PK profiles

The science behind PharmFilm

How does PharmFilm work?	Kinetics: Tmax & Cmax	Oral cavity absorption
Polymers are used as film formers to hold API and excipients in place Patented techniques are used to ensure the API is uniformly distributed throughout the film Aquestive utilizes the proprietary technology features of PharmFilm along with pH modifiers and permeation enhancers to achieve target absorption.	Deep understanding of oral mucosa allows for tailored absorption profiles Novel use of permeation enhancers, stabilizers, and polymer blends ensures effective and reproducible delivery of active ingredients Film designs are customized to maximize transcellular and/or intercellular transport across the buccal mucosa.	Upon application to the mucosa, PharmFilm begins to dissolve based on the compositional profile created during formulation APIs or proteins are released at a rate determined by the proprietary compositional profile.

How does PharmFilm work?

Kinetics: Tmax & Cmax

Oral cavity absorption

Polymers are used as film formers to hold API and excipients in place

Patented techniques are used to ensure the API is uniformly distributed throughout the film

Aquestive utilizes the proprietary technology features of PharmFilm along with pH modifiers and permeation enhancers to achieve target absorption.

Deep understanding of oral mucosa allows for tailored absorption profiles

Novel use of permeation enhancers, stabilizers, and polymer blends ensures effective and reproducible delivery of active ingredients

Film designs are customized to maximize transcellular and/or intercellular transport across the buccal mucosa.

Upon application to the mucosa, PharmFilm begins to dissolve based on the compositional profile created during formulation

APIs or proteins are released at a rate determined by the proprietary compositional profile.

How does PharmFilm work?

Polymers are used as film formers to hold API and excipients in place

Patented techniques are used to ensure the API is uniformly distributed throughout the film

Aquestive utilizes the proprietary technology features of PharmFilm (unidirectional release, dissolution rate, direct tissue exposure) along with known pH modifiers and permeation enhancers to protect complex molecules from enzymatic degradation and drive absorption through the buccal mucosa.

Kinetics: Tmax & Cmax

Deep understanding of oral mucosa allows for tailored absorption profiles

Proprietary permeation enhancers, stabilizers, and polymer blends ensure effective, reproducible, and non irritating delivery of active ingredients

Film designs are customized to maximize transcellular and/or intercellular transport across the buccal mucosa.

Oral cavity absorption

Upon application to the mucosa, the polymers and excipients begin to dissolve based on the proprietary compositional profile created during formulation

API is released at a rate determined by the proprietary compositional profile created by Aquestive

Controlling the release rate allows Aquestive to vary the kinetics created by various APIs or proteins

Sustained or quick release have a direct impact on Tmax and Cmax and bioavailabilty enhancements

PharmFilm has three distinct delivery/absorption sites

person placing pharmfilm inside mouth by cheek

Buccal delivery	Sublingual delivery	Lingual delivery
Controlled release to optimize absorption Increased retention time at site of absorption Controlled microenvironment for optimized absorption Improved bioavailability	Rapid disintegration and release to sublingual mucosa Faster onset via direct delivery to the systemic circulation Potential to improve bioavailability of APIs subject to hepatic degradation Suite of GRAS permeation enhancers to optimize delivery	Provides rapid disintegration API released for GI absorption Bioequivalent to tablet/ capsule formulations Variety of taste masking strategies available

Buccal delivery

Sublingual delivery

Lingual delivery

Controlled release to optimize absorption

Increased retention time at site of absorption

Controlled microenvironment for optimized absorption

Improved bioavailability

Rapid disintegration and release to sublingual mucosa

Faster onset via direct delivery to the systemic circulation

Potential to improve bioavailability of APIs subject to hepatic degradation

Suite of GRAS permeation enhancers to optimize delivery

Provides rapid disintegration

API released for GI absorption

Bioequivalent to tablet/ capsule formulations

Variety of taste masking strategies available

Buccal delivery

Controlled release to optimize absorption

Increased retention time at site of absorption

Controlled microenvironment for optimized absorption

Improved bioavailability

Sublingual delivery

Rapid disintegration and release to sublingual mucosa

Faster onset via direct delivery to the systemic circulation

Potential to improve bioavailability of APIs subject to hepatic degradation

Suite of GRAS permeation enhancers to optimize delivery

Lingual delivery

Provides rapid disintegration

API released for GI absorption

Bioequivalent to tablet/ capsule formulations

Variety of taste masking strategies available

Manufacturing

Aquestive supplies more than 95% of the world’s oral films and we have the capability to produce more than 1 billion commercial doses a year.

worker in manufacturing plant for pharmfilm

Regulatory success

We are proud of our legacy of regulatory firsts, including the first FDA film approvals for lingual, sublingual, and combination drug delivery. The path is set for our innovative therapies to continue altering the landscape of treatment options and improving the lives of patients worldwide.

To learn how PharmFilm can transform
your product or to request a sample,
please complete the following form:

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Here’s more information about PharmFilm

Potential advantages of the PharmFilm technology platform

Potential advantages of the PharmFilm technology platform

The science behind PharmFilm

PharmFilm has three distinct delivery/absorption sites

Manufacturing

Regulatory success

To learn how PharmFilm can transform your product or to request a sample, please complete the following form:

Latest comments

To learn how PharmFilm can transform
your product or to request a sample,
please complete the following form: