The Taste Masking Challenge

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.

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

Senopsys' FlavorOpt Taste Masking System

FlavorOpt draws on decades of experience in the highly competitive food industry, where taste is paramount. FlavorOpt is a structured, sensory-directed system for developing palatable, taste-masked products across liquid, powder, and solid dosage forms.

The FlavorOpt℠ Taste Masking System Integrates:

  • Formulation design by our scientists, who are experts in taste masking and understand excipient functionality, taste modulation and processing technologies.
  • Rapid formulation prototyping in our fully equipped laboratories.
  • Prototype taste assessment conducted by sensory scientists with extensive experience evaluating investigational and approved drugs.
  • Robust tools to analyze and interpret results and provide guidance to rapidly optimize formulations.

By integrating advanced taste masking strategies into formulation design, we help address one of the most common challenges in pediatric drug development—creating medicines that children will willingly take.

The results of the FlavorOpt Taste Masking System are palatable formulations suitable for clinical and commercial development.

Taste Masking Capabilities

Senopsys has developed the specialized capabilities and infrastructure required to conduct taste assessment and taste masking studies that meet the stringent regulatory requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

Expertise

Senopsys seamlessly integrates formulation and sensory science to develop palatable, age-appropriate formulations.

Dosage Form Experience

Our formulation scientists have deep experience 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)

Sensory Analysis Capabilities

Our sensory science team evaluates investigational and approved drug products using:

  • ASTM/ISO sensory analysis standards
  • Customized techniques developed by Senopsys for actives, excipients, and packaging
  • CGP-compliant taste evaluation protocols

All Senopsys formulation scientists are also trained sensory analysts, enabling integrated data interpretation and more efficient formulation development.

Laboratory Infrastructure

Senopsys applies a proven sensory-directed formulation approach, combining rapid prototyping with evaluation by trained human panelists.

Formulation Capabilities

  • Laboratories equipped for a broad range of dosage forms:
    • Traditional: liquids, powders, chewable tablets, nasal sprays
    • Novel: fast dissolving tablets, oral films and sprays, soft chews

Supporting Infrastructure

  • Dedicated sensory evaluation facilities
  • Controlled Substance Registrations (U.S. DEA and Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
  • Robust, audited quality system

Clinical Infrastructure

Senopsys conducts taste assessment and taste masking studies in accordance with ICH Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards.

Clinical Study Capabilities

  • Experienced investigators (physicians, registered nurses, study coordinators)
  • Customized GCP-compliant documentation:
    • Protocols
    • Informed consent forms
    • Case report forms
    • Drug accountability systems
  • eCRF-capable systems

Regulatory & Operational Infrastructure

  • Established Independent Review Board relationship (160+ approved studies)
  • Trained adult sensory panelists with extensive drug product experience
  • Occupational health monitoring administered by a Harvard-affiliated hospital
  • Pharmacy compounding support for taste assessment samples

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.

Common Development Questions

Many APIs can achieve meaningful palatability improvement through formulation (excipient) systems alone. However, challenging compounds may require more advanced “sequestration” technologies such as particle coating, complexation or encapsulation. Determining the appropriate path early can prevent unnecessary development cycles.

Yes. Sensory and formulation data can help support regulatory justification of excipient selection and usage levels during product development and regulatory review.

Palatability Should Never Be The Reason A Medicine Fails

Trusted by 15 of the top 25 global pharma companies, Senopsys brings sensory science and formulation expertise to the most challenging taste masking problems.

Reach out to schedule a technical discussion with our experts.

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