Project

Development of an integrated end-to-end simulation platform for continuous manufacturing of oral tablets

Code
12X6823N
Duration
01 October 2022 → 30 September 2025
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Engineering and technology
    • Automation and control systems
    • Signal processing
    • Biomedical signal processing
    • Signal processing not elsewhere classified
Keywords
modelling of dynamical systems process control control engineering
 
Project description

Despite manufacturing innovations and technologies on the rise, solid oral dosage in the pharmaceutical industry is still mass production. Although this is efficient and cost-effective, it is typically based on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ product concept and lacks the flexibility and agility required to fully meet the needs of the individual patient. Nowadays the pharmaceutical industry is experiencing a paradigm shift from batch to continuous manufacturing. This will lead to increased flexibility to target diverse populations as well as more consistent product quality to ensure the best efficacy. Continuous processing integrated with online/inline monitoring tools coupled with an efficient automatic feedback control system is highly desired by the pharmaceutical industry. To facilitate the transition from the batch-wise production to continuous manufacturing in the pharma industry engineering tools are needed. The aim of this project is to develop a digital platform for tablet manufacturing that integrates mechanistic models and data-driven tools for real-time predictions, analysis of the disturbances and uncertainties and allows the development of both unit processes level and plant-wide control strategies. This platform provides a flexible, safe, and economically feasible environment for real-time optimization and future scenario analysis. As such it represents a powerful decision-making tool for the operation and control of continuous tablet manufacturing lines.