⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

For the First Time Ever, 3-D Printed Pill Receives FDA Approval Its use case is narrow, but the FDA's stamp of approval could have broader implications for the way we create customized medicine.

By Laura Entis

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock.com

For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a 3-D printed pill.

Developed by Aprecia Pharmaceuticals, the pill will be used by patients with epilepsy to control seizures. But the FDA's stamp of approval could have far broader applications; Aprecia Pharmaceuticals plans to develop other medications using 3-D printing technology, the BBC reports.

While 3-D printing technology has been dinged for generating outsized expectations that have yet to be fulfilled, in health care its impact has already been profound. From customized 3-D printed prosthetics and hip replacements, to 3-D printed bones, skin and personalized replicas of tumors (for use in cancer treatment), the industry is a place where novel technology and actual use cases have intercepted to create real innovation.

Related: 3-D Printing Points Way to Smarter Cancer Treatment

Pills fit neatly into this vein. Not only does the technology – which builds up a tablet in layers – allow for more concentrated pills, it could also make it easier and more cost-efficient (an adjustment to software, instead of the traditional manufacturing process) to create pills precisely tailored for a patient's exact dosage.

In addition, "for the last 50 years we have manufactured tablets in factories and shipped them to hospitals and for the first time this process means we can produce tablets much closer to the patient," Dr. Mohamed Albed Alhnan, a lecturer in pharmaceutics at the University of Central Lancashire, told the BBC.

Related: FDA Approves First Mind-Controlled Prosthetic Arm

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Business News

Tesla Paid No Federal Income Taxes Over 5 Years, While Paying Top Execs $2.5 Billion, According to a New Report

Between 2018 and 2022, more than 30 companies paid its top five executives more than they paid in federal income taxes.

Money & Finance

How Stock Market Fluctuations Really Impact Your Business (and How to Thrive Amidst Volatility)

The impact of stock market fluctuations is complex and far-reaching. It doesn't just affect individual investors; its ripple effect impacts businesses everywhere. Here's how.