The Senopsys Difference

Liquids, powders, orally disintegrating tablets, and chewable tablets are designed for patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets and capsules. Unfortunately, with ease of administration comes the challenge of palatability.

As these alternative dosage forms represent a small fraction of the market, relevant experience is diffuse even within the largest companies and their development contractors. Additionally, sensory analysis and the formulation principles of taste masking are not core competencies of the pharmaceutical industry.

This is where we come in. Senopsys is dedicated to helping our clients develop palatable drug products – it’s all we do.

We offer highly specialized capabilities to support taste assessment and taste masking studies, including:

  • Expertise – Formulation and sensory scientists with decades of combined experience developing palatable drug products
  • Laboratory Infrastructure – Formulation laboratories equipped for liquids, powders and tablets, supported by dedicated sensory analysis facilities
  • Clinical Infrastructure – Experienced investigators, customized documentation and supporting systems designed for human subject taste studies

Senopsys Specialized Capabilities

Expertise

Many dosage forms and pharmaceutical technologies trace their origins to the food industry. Senopsys’ sensory-directed FlavorOpt℠ Taste Masking System was developed through our team’s decades of experience in the highly competitive food industry, where taste is paramount. Our scientists now apply this proven approach to develop palatable drug products while working  within the strict regulatory framework of the pharmaceutical industry.  Senopsys provides the missing link in scientific expertise:

  • Experienced formulation scientists with deep knowledge of the art, science and technology of taste masking, successfully applied across a wide range of dosage forms, including:
  • Powders for constitution
  • Granules (sachet)
  • Solutions
  • Suspensions
  • Emulsions
  • Chewable tablets
  • Chewing gums
  • Orally disintegrating, or “fast dissolving,” tablets

  • Soft chews
  • Films
  • Mini-tablets
  • Oral and nasal sprays
  • Tablet coatings (taste masking, ease-of-swallowing)
  • Capsules (ease of swallowing)
  • Topicals (odor masking, skin feel)

  • A team of sensory scientists and with extensive experience evaluating investigational and approved drugs.  Our sensory analysis team:
  • Follows ASTM/ISO sensory analysis standards
  • Applies customized techniques developed by Senopsys to evaluate the taste and aroma of drug actives, excipients, and packaging
  • Adheres to CGP-compliant taste evaluation protocols

All Senopsys formulation scientists are also trained sensory analysts. This integration facilitates data analysis and interpretation to provide robust formulation guidance while minimizing development timelines.  This is an important Senopsys difference.

Laboratory Infrastructure

Senopsys applies a proven sensory-directed formulation approach to develop palatable drug products, combing rapid formulation prototyping with taste evaluation by trained human panelists. Our supporting resources include:

  • Formulation laboratories equipped to handle a broad range of dosage forms
    • Traditional – liquids, powders, chewable tablets and nasal sprays
    • Novel – fast dissolving tablets, oral films and sprays, and soft chews
  • Dedicated sensory evaluation facilities
  • Controlled Substance Registrations from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • A robust, audited quality system

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Clinical Infrastructure

Senopsys’ taste assessment and taste masking studies adhere to the principles of the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. Key features include:

  • Experienced investigators – physicians, registered nurses and study coordinators
  • Customized document templates – protocol, informed consent, case report, drug accountability and other GCP-critical forms
  • eCRF capable
  • Established Independent Review Board relationship – over 150 approved studies
  • Healthy adult sensory scientists (subjects) with extensive training and drug product experience
  • Occupational health monitoring administered by Harvard-affiliated hospital
  • Available pharmacy compounding of taste assessment samples 

Clinical Infrastructure

 

Explore the Art and Science of Taste Masking

We invite you to explore the art and science of taste masking by viewing a recent case study or downloading our white paper.

Sample Case Study

Novel Dosage Form Feasibility Assessment

The client needed to develop an oral dosage form to deliver a high loading of an insoluble API (5gm per unit dose) with TID dosing. For chronic conditions, palatability – taste, aroma, mouthfeel and texture – takes on a particular importance. Senopsys applied its FlavorOpt℠ formulation development process to develop a series of palatable proof-of-concept formulations of traditional and novel dosage forms.

See Case Study Details

See All Case Studies

White Paper

Top 10 Myths of Taste Masking

How good is your knowledge of taste masking? Learn the truths behind the science and what it means for your development program.

Download the White Paper

Dedicated to Developing Palatable Drug Products

Senopsys is the taste-masking development partner of choice for 15 of the top 25 global pharma companies as well as dozens of emerging and mid-size pharma and biotech companies.

Ask us questions, inquire about our services or schedule a “lunch and learn” seminar about the art and science of taste masking.

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